190 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEE. 



Genus Euneplithya, Verrill. 



Eunephthya, Verrill, Amer. Journ. Sci. and Arts., vol. xlvii. p. 284, 1869; Proc. Essex Inst., 

 vol. vi. p. 80, 1869. 



" VeiTUCEe prominent and covered with rough thorny, club-shaped or branched 

 spicula, with the ends projecting from the surface." 



Verrill formed this genus, with the above diagnosis, in the year 1869 for the northern 

 Alcyonium glomeratum, Liitk., and for Neplithya thyrsoidea, Verrill, from the Cape of 

 Good Hope, described by him in 1866.^ The former name was later on changed into that 

 of Eunephthya liitkeni, Verrill and Mareuzeller, the latter into Eunephthya thyrsoides, 

 Verrill. Verrill also counts as a third species the Nephthya nigra, Pourt., discovered by 

 Pourtales at a depth of 120 to 152 fathoms in the Strait of Florida," and names it 

 Eunephthya nigra.^ 



The representatives of the genus Eunephthya. may be generally characterised as 

 branched Nephthyidas of the habit of Nephthya, with the relatively large, club-shaped 

 and non- retractile polyps thickly crowded together on the branches. In most species 

 the polyps have the power of bending in towards the stem, in which condition they are 

 always found in dead specimens. 



In some species the polyps exhibit eight longitudinal markings on the surface. The 

 tentacles are armed with spicules, and in repose and death are simply folded together 

 over the mouth. The spicules are spindles, provided with branching spines and processes, 

 spinose clubs, or branched spicules whose spines project beyond the surface of the outer 

 coating, and give to the latter a rough surface. 



The three hitherto known species of the genus come from temperate or cold seas, or 

 from deep water in the warm zone. 



The Challenger collection contains one specimen, which undoubtedly belongs to this 

 genus, and it likewise comes from the temperate zone. 



Eunephthya fusca, n. sp. (PL XXXVI. figs, la, Ih). 



From a broad, elevated base rises a straight, upright stem, gradually diminishing in 

 size upwards. After a short distance branches come off from the stem on all sides, 

 bearing small twigs. On these, and on the apices of the branches, are placed the polyps 

 to the number of three to seven. The polyj^s are large, and cover the branches and 

 twigs completely, so that on a superficial view the stem appears to be surrounded with 

 projecting lobes, in which the polyps are placed one above the other like roof-tiles. The 



1 Proc. Essex Inst, vol. iv. p. 148. 2 Bull. Mus. Covip. Zobl, 1868. 



3 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zo6l., vol. xi. p. 44, 1883. 



