REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 71 



■and of the coenenchjona arc stout and covered with strong prominences, which in the calyx 

 scales are merged into ribs radiating from the nucleus to the upper edge, and there 

 running out into spines. The operculum, formed out of eight scales, constitutes, when 

 closed, a low, blunt cone. The coenenchyma is thin, with two layers of calcareous scales. 

 The growth is apical. 



This genus exhibits in the form of the calyces and scales a relationship to Tliouarella, 

 from which, however, it is distinguished by the mode of ramification. This latter exhibits 

 already the condition of Plumarella, in which, however, the calyces come off only from 

 two sides of the twigs. The new genus may therefore be considered as a connecting 

 link lietween Thouarella and Plumarella. 



Amphilaphis regulans, n. sp. (PI. XV. figs. 1, la; PI. XXI. fig. 7). 



The main stem gives off large branches on two sides, which bear parallel-running 

 lateral twigs, as well as simple twigs. 



The pol}^s, jilficed on the stem, branches and twigs, form irregular short spirals of 

 fours, which arise at different heights from the four sides. The club-shaped calyces 

 have a length of \'5 to 2 mm., and contain seven or eight transverse rows of scales, 

 which are arranged in seven longitudinal rows, of which the ventral row is formed of 

 somewhat differently constructed thin scales. The operculum closes the calyx completely 

 and consists of eight triangular calcareous scales, which vary slightly in size, and form 

 when closed a blunt low cone. The calyx scales are thick, covered mth large, rough 

 prominences, and with teeth on their edges. The scales of the coenenchyma are three- 

 cornered, toothed on one side, and overlap each other with their lateral edges. They are 

 slightly smaller than the calyx scales. 



One large colony has grown up from a flat calcareous base on a Lophohelia and rises 

 to a height of 25 cm., with a lateral expansion of 13 cm. The main stem is flattened; 

 its larger diameter reaches at the base 4 mm., at a heiglit of 60 mm., where it is broken 

 off, r5 mm. Its axis is hard, brittle, of a yellow-brown colour, the coenenchyma appears 

 to have died off, the axis is covered with foreign bodies (Palythoa). Branches arise from 

 both sides, at different heights, beginning at the base of the main stem, and, at their 

 origin, attain to nearly the thickness of the main stem. They are flattened in the same 

 plane as the main stem, the axis is at the commencement hard and inflexible, but 

 becomes in its further course thin and flexible, and causes the summit to hang over to 

 one side like the twigs of a weeping willow. The branches give ofl' twigs in the lower 

 part, again in the same plane as the stem gives off the branches ; these develop simple 

 lateral twigs according to the same law. The simple terminal twigs, coming off from 

 their branches at angles of 45°, attain a length of 40 to 50 mm., and arc always much 

 thinner than their parent twig. 



