REPORT ON THE ALC YON ARIA. 127 



Ridley terms the primary branching dichotomous; this may be so in the sense of Dr. 

 Gray; but there is here as little true dichotomy as in any of the Gorgonacese. One can 

 distinctly distinguish a main stem, from which larger branches come off at angles of 

 about 45°, and between them, smaller ones at from obtuse to right angles. The large 

 branches, which may attain the thickness of the main stem, give off again, like the main 

 stem, lateral branches and twigs. The stem and the large branches are frequently bent, 

 and, indeed, a divergent bend always takes place at the point of departure of one of the 

 larger branches. This gives the impression of a dichotomy. 



The form of the spicules agrees with Ridley's description. The large spicules of 

 the cceuenchyma exhibit the following proportions: 1"7 by 0'145 mm.; 1'375 by 

 O'lG ram.; 17 by O'loG mm.; r5 by 0"13 mm.; 0"9 by 0"18 mm. The smaller .spicules 

 of the coenenchyma measure 0-5 l)y 0-083 ; 073 by 0-16 ; O'G by O"! ; 075 by O'l ; 

 07 by O'l ; 0"8 by 0"1 ; 0'8 by 0'09 mm. The latter are, as Ridley points out, more 

 abundant. The large spicules occasionally occur, obliquely arranged, in the angles of 

 the branches. The calyx is composed of spicules arranged in eight groups. Each of 

 these groups consists of two rows of spicules, converging towards the margin of the 

 calyx, and finally projecting in eight teeth above the margin. 



The tentacular operculum, which is often sunk into the mouth of the calyx, is 

 formed of slightly curved, convergent spicules, bearing fine, sharp, little warts. They 

 measure 0-265 by 0-025 ; 0-25 by 0-04 ; 0-2 by 0-05 mm. 



There are two varieties of the species in the collection. The one is of a uniibrm 

 dark carmine-red colour in spirit and of a somewhat fainter red when dry ; the 

 tentacular operculum is whitish. A second specimen, which is more graceful in all 

 respects, has a more brick-red colour and the tentacular operculum is yellowish. 



Habitat. — Station 232, Ilyalonema-ground, off Japan ; depth, 345 fathoms ; bottom, 

 green mud. 



The British Museum specimens came from Mauritius, from a depth of DO fathoms. 



5. Muricella nitida, Verrill {?). 



Muricella nitida, Verrill, Amer. Journ. Sci. and Arts, vol. xlv., May 186S, p. \\-2. 



The short description which Verrill gives {loc. cit.) does not enable us to determine 

 with certainty whether the present specimen is quite identical with Verrill's species, 

 especially since no measurements are given in the description referred to. Verrill's 

 diagnosis runs as follows: — "The species is allied to Muricella Jlexuosa, Verr., but 

 differs in the bright purplish-red colour and larger size of the spicula, which compose, 

 almost exclusively, the coenenchyma. These are relatively very large, long, fusiform, 

 blunt at the ends, often crooked, the surface finely papillose and shining. Those of the 



