REPORT ON THE ALCYONAEIA. 119 



1. Echinogorgia pseudosassapo, KoUiker (PL XXIII. fig. 9 ; PI. XXV. fig. 5). 



Gorgonia sassapo, var. retictdata, Esper, Pflanzenthiere, 1791, Taf. viii. 

 Echinogorgia pseudosassapo, Kolliker, Icones HistiologiciB, vol. i. p. 136. 



There can be no doubt about the identity of the Challenger specimen with Gorgonia 

 sassapo, var. reticulata, Esper, after a comparison of Esper's drawing and of the spicules 

 as illustrated by Kolliker {loc. cit). The colony presents an upright stem, richly 

 branched in one plane, the smaller branches of which frequently anastomose with one 

 another, and so form a loose network. The main stem rises from a flat expanded base 

 to a height of 170 mm., with a diameter of 4'5 mm., and gives off branches on both 

 sides, in alternating series, which, arising at an acute angle, either take a course at right 

 angles, or, bending upwards, take a direction parallel to the principal stem and with 

 their apices reaching its level. Their length is from 100 to 120 mm. Their basal 

 thickness 2'5 mm. Twigs arise from the branches, as well as from the principal stem, 

 which are given off at almost right angles, and which either anastomose wdth some of 

 the other branches and thus form a network, or terminate as simple knobs, or finally 

 bend in order to run parallel to the main branch, and then give off in their turn, short, 

 lateral, knob-like endings. The length of the simple terminal branches is about 

 16 mm., with a thickness at their commencement of 2 mm., increasing to 2 '5 mm. at 

 their ends. 



The ccenenchjnna is thick and rough on the stem and branches. The polyps on the 

 stem and branches are in closely packed spirals ; they form but small, wart-like projec- 

 tions, with longish oval, slit-like mouths. The tentacles arc quite retractile, and there 

 is but a feebly developed operculum, which does not project beyond the margin of the 

 calyx. The polyp is at most 1 mm. in diameter, with a height of 0'5 mm. The 

 spicules are in jjart peculiar spiny discs of a triangular shape, armed with warts as 

 figured by Kolliker in this species,' having a length of 0"63 mm., and a breadth of 

 0'18 mm.; there are others with from three to four branched prominences and with 

 a usually tri-foliate expansion, which is either flattened out or is again trifurcate. These 

 spicules measure, from the root to the apex of the foliar expansions, 0"24, 0'25, 

 0"21 mm., with a breadth for the foliar expansions of 0'14, 0'2, and 0"13 mm. 

 Besides, forms occur which remind one of the spicules of the polyps of Paramuricea ; 

 multiraycd stellate forms, from which a smooth pointed ray goes off. Lastly, there 

 are spindles, frequently curved and unilaterally rayed, of a length by breadth of 

 0*16-0'05 ; 0'25-0"07 mm. Both the foliar expansions and spines project beyond 

 the surface of the ccenenchyma and of the pol3'ps and give these a roughened 

 appearance. 



The opercular portions are formed by short, smooth spines, of which two or three 

 are found on the bases of each tentacle. All the spicules are of a dark-red colour. 



^ Loc. cit., pi. xviii. fig. 10. 



