EEPOItT ON THE ALCYONAKIA. 149 



has a similar appearance, the ccenenchyma is said to consist of small scales only. Its 

 affinities are apparently with Lej^togorgia. This species was found at a depth of 337 

 fathoms in lat. 31° 48' 50" N., long. 77° 51' 50" W. There is a remarkable resem- 

 blance, so far as external form goes, between this species of Verrill's and the one for 

 which we have established the above genus, but as far as we can understand Verrill's 

 description of the spicules, our form differs sufficiently to justify us, pending further 

 knowledge, in establishing it. The nutrient canals closely resemble those met with in 

 Plexaura, while the ccenenchyma is quite granular, owing to the layer of warty and one- 

 sided club-shaped spicules. 



Callistephanus koreni, n. sp. (PI. XXIX. figs. 2, 2a ; PI. XXXIII. fig. 7). 



The colony, so far as can be ascertained from the examination of some fragments 

 taken from the tangles of the dredge, would appear to consist of an axis, somewhat feebly 

 branched. The main stem (or branch) is about 2 mm. in diameter, and gives origin to 

 three branches from 7 to 8 cm. long. These are given off at right angles, and from them 

 other smaller twigs arise, at intervals of from 5 to 15 mm.; these again give rise to other 

 twigs, all of which arise in the same plane and at right angles, so as to give a somewhat 

 broadened fan-shaped form to the colony. The polyps arise from prominent verrucse, 

 which are situated laterally and alternately, the space between the polyps of the one 

 side being from 3 to 4 mm. The larger verrucse are 1 "5 mm. in height and 2 mm. broad. 

 The polyps are completely retractile ; the bodies are first retracted and then the tentacles 

 are brought together and then withdrawn within the prominences of the verruca) ; 

 they are not incurved, the edges of the verrucse can to a certain extent close in over 

 them, leaving an eight-rayed opening. On the smaller branches the polyps are often 

 much closer together. 



The ccenenchyma is moderately thick, rough ; consisting of a layer of warty spindles, 

 warty and one-sided clubs, often spiny. The bodies of the polyps are furnished with 

 spiny spindles, while fine needle-shaped spicules are found supporting the outward basid 

 surfaces of the tentacles. The spicules of the ccenenchyma measure, the spindles 0"4-0"6; 

 0-34--0-04; 0-3-0-04 ; 0-24-0-04 ; 0-2-0-04 mm.; the warty clubs 0-18-0-r2 by 

 O-OC) inm. in their widest diameter; the one-sided clubs l-O^OS ; 0'08-0"06 mm.; the 

 irregular four-rayed form 0'24-0"08 mm. The sjiicules in the tentacles measure 0'l-0'04; 

 1-0-02 mm. 



The colour in spirits of wine is a bright red. 



Habitat. — Fragments of this very beautiful species were dredged at Station 344, off 

 the Island of Ascension, from a depth of 420 fathoms. They had to be disentangled 

 from the hempen tangles ; so that the attachment and perfect shape of the colony ' 

 remains unknown. 



