REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 203 



Spongodes umhellata, u. sp. (PI. XXXVIe. figs. 3a, ?,h). 



The colony forms a bush-like mass, branched from the base upwards ; the terminal 

 twigs forming flat polyp-bearing umbels. 



The lower end of the stem has been torn off, so that it is impossible to decide 

 whether we are dealing with a complete colony or perhaps only with a branch of a 

 larger colony. The piece in the collection is, however, sufficiently characteristic to 

 render possible a description of the species. 



Horizontal, flat branches radiate on all sides from a median stem-portion. The 

 length of the branches reaches 25 mm. Another short, ramified branch goes up from 

 the middle. Each branch, after a short distance (7 to 8 mm.), divides into a number 

 (two to three) of secondary branches, diverging at acute angles and turning upwards 

 and to the sides ; these always divide into three or four twigs whose small secondary 

 twigs bear bundles of polyps. All the twigs reach to the same level, so as to give rise 

 to copious umbels. These flat, expanded umbels mutually touch one another, only a few 

 project beyond the remainder, so that, finally, the entire surface of the colony forms a 

 single, flat, umbellate form, covered with polyps ; while the lower surface shows the 

 horizontally expanded ramifications. 



Diameter of the colony 45 mm. Length of the twigs 3 to 4 mm. The end of each 

 twig exhibits a bundle of ten to twelve closely crowded polyp heads. The heads are 

 only slightly surmounted by rigid spicules. The consistency of the whole is flexUe, 

 but not flabby. 



The outer covering of the stem and branches is thickly filled with larger and smaller 

 pointed spindles. These are mostly y"-shaped ; in the branches they are more trans- 

 versely placed, in the twigs, on the contrary, they are longitudinally arranged ; their 

 length reaches 4 mm., in the peduncles of the polyps the projecting spicules may reach 

 5 mm. in length. These spindles are generally slendei", more or less rounded ofl" at the 

 ends, and covered with small, rigid spines. Only on the two ends are small warts 

 developed. The size of the spindles reaches 0'8 by 0'05 mm.; 0'9 by 0'05 mm.; 1 l)y 

 0-05 mm.; 1-2 by 0-06 mm.; 5 liy 0-2 mm. They are seldom straight, generally simply 

 bent, or more or lessy"-shaped. 



The polyp heads are small, surmounted from their base upwards by stout, purplish - 

 red spicules, which project beyond the margins. 



The tentacles, armed with small spicules, are wliite. Tlic red spicules of the head 

 are pointed ; size, 072 by 0-04 ; 0-3 by 0-03 ; 0-18 by 0-01 mm. 



Colour of the colony. — The umljels purple ; all the polyp heads purplish-red, 

 branches and twists white. 



Habitat. — Torres Strait; depth, 8 to 11 fathoms. 



