REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 153 



20 mm. The first branch is given ofi" at a height on the stem of 30 mm.; at about 

 45 mm. in height the main stem seems to bifurcate, and each of the subdivisions gives 

 origin to a series of smaller branches, which again and again subdivide. The terminal 

 twigs are very long and slender (200 mm.). 



The axis is horny but brittle. The ccenenchyma is moderately thick. There is a 

 spiral marking on the lower portion of the stem which ramifies along and is lost in the 

 branches. 



The polyps are arranged on the main stem in a somewhat irregular manner, but 

 on the smaller wire-like branches they are placed in opposite rows. The polyps are 

 completely retractile and when closed the verrucse appear but slightly elevated. 



The warty spindles of the ccenenchyma measure 0'12-0"04 ; 0"l-0'04 ; 0'08-0'04 ; 

 mm. The few quadriradiate forms are 0"06-0"06 mm.; those of the polyps 0"08-0'02 ; 

 0-06-0-02 mm. 



The colour in spirits is a pale yellow hue. 



Habitat. — Torres Strait. 



This species in several respects resembles Leptogorgia australiensis, Ridley. 



Genus Gorgonia, Verrill. 



We agree with Verrill ^ in restricting this genus to those species of Gorgonids having 

 small double spindles along with small bracket-shaped or crescent-shaped spicules; these 

 latter corresponding to those called " Klammern " by KoUiker f which very characteristic 

 fonu has been well called " scaphoid " by Saville Kent,^ on account of the resemblance 

 to a small canoe with men in it. 



This genus corresponds to the second division of Kolliker's Gorgonia. 



Gorgonia fiahellum, Linn. 



Several specimens of this well-known species were taken at moderate depths off the 

 Bermudas. 



Family VII. Gorgonellid^. 



Gorgonellacex, Valenciennes, Comptes rendus, t. xli. p. 1 4. 



„ Milne-Edwards, Hist. Nat. des Coralliaires, t. i. p. 182. 



„ Kolliker {pars), Icones Histiol., p. 140. 



We adopt this family in the sense of KoUiker's division D. of the subfamily I. 

 Gorgoninaj, only excluding the genus Riisea, D. et M. (see antea, p. 24), which is 

 the same as Ilerophik, Steenstrup, which latter name should have the priority. 



' Amer. Joum. Sci. and Arts, vol. xlviii. p. 424, 1869. - Icones Histiol., Abth. ii. p. 139, 1865. 



' Monthly Micr. Joum., 1870, p. 90. 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. — PAKT LXIV. — 1888.) Sss 20 



