i6 



points scattered over their surfaces. Some are almost smooth while others have the points 

 thickly implanted over their surfaces. The spicules of the axis do not differ materially from 

 those of the calyces and general ccenenchyma. 



Color. The colony is very light yellowish brown, the polyps not differing in color 

 from the stem and branches. 



This specimen came from a greater depth than is often recorded for members of this family. 



Genus Paragorgia Milne Edwards and Haime. 



Paragorgia Milne Edwards et Haime. Histoire Naturelle des Coralliaires, I, 1857, p. 190. 

 Paragorgia KöUiker. Icones Histiologica;, II, 1865, p. 141. 

 Paragorgia Kölliker. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Polypen, 1870, p. 12. 

 Paragorgia Studer. Versuch eines Systemes der Alcyonaria, 1887, p. 28. 

 Paragorgia Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. XXXIII. 

 Paragorgia Delage et Herouard. Traite de Zoologie Concrete, II, 2, 1901, p. 413. 



The original description of this genus by Milne Edwards is as follows : 



"Polypieroide arborescent, composed of a thin layer of cortical sclerenchyma in the 

 thickness of which is limited the body cavities of the polyps, and a tubular (fistuleu.x) verj- 

 large axis in the form of a spongy tissue very rich in calcareous spicules. Polyps united in 

 groups on the extremities of the branches or upon the lateral tubercles, quite distant and 

 irregularly disposed". 



Kölliker (1865) confines himself to a definition of the spicules, and (in 1870) gives a 

 sort of key to the genera of his "Briaracea" of which he makes a section " Paragorgiaceae" 

 characterized by a branched colony in which the branches show a distinct cortical and nuclear 

 part (axis). The genus Paragorgia is characterized by the presence of large water-vascular 

 canals in the axis, entirely retractile polyps and wart-like calyces irregularly distributed. 



.Studer (1887) gives a definition which can be adopted for our present purpose and is 

 translated as follows : 



"Colony upright, branched, branches c)lindrical, with irregularly disposed warty calyces 

 within which the polyps are retractile. The slightly differentiated axis contains large water- 

 vascular canals. Besides the polyps there are, in P. nodosa Kor. and Dan., siphonozooids 

 without tentacles". 



The type species of this genus is Paragorgia arborea. Other species are Paragorgia 

 nodosa Koren and Danielsen, P. spie?idens Thomson and Henderson and the new species secured 

 by the Siboga Expedition. 



I. Paragorgia splendens Thomson and Henderson. (Plate III, figs. 4, 4^'). 



Paragorgia splendens Thomson and Henderson. Alcyonarians of the Indian Ocean, Part I, 

 1906, p. 20. 



Stat. 95. 5°43-5 N., ii9°4o'E. 522 meters. Stony bottom. 



Two fragmentary specimens secured. The largest measures 2.3 cm. in height and has a 



spread equal to the height. The main stem, or branch in 3 mm. in diameter and bifurcates 



