448 Verrill, JVotes on Radiata. 



The larger spindles measure -SYo"^™ by -ISO""", '825 by -150, -775 by 

 •150, -750 by -150, -700 by -150, -700 by -125, -675 by -125, -550 by -137 ; 

 the slender spindles 1'12 by •;i2, 1-12 by -087, I'lO by -100, -900 by 

 •087, ^875 by '100, ^775 by -100 "775 by -062, ■750 by -100, '750 by 

 •075, -700 by '075, -650 by -087, '625 by -075, '575 by -075, -375 by 

 •050 ; the clubs -575 by •112, -450 by -137; the irregular spicula -400 

 by -175, -375 by -250, -325 by ^200, -300 by -150, 



Zorritos, Peru, dredged in 3 to 5 fathoms, — F. H. Bradley ; Panama 

 and Pearl Islands, in rocky pools at extreme low-water mark, very 

 rare,— F. H. Bradley ; Corinto,— J. A. McNiel. 



This species is remarkably distinct from all otliers known by reason 

 of its very slender branches ; long, slender, and acute verructe ; and 

 its extremely slender and sharp spindles. 



It resembles most the slender specim?ns of J£ appressa^ var.flaves- 

 cens^ in external characters. The spicula are most like those of M. 

 aspera^ but are much smaller and more slender. 



Muricea aspera Vemii, sp. nov. 



Corallum yellowish white, flabelliform, with somewhat slender 

 branches, which are subpinnate. 



Only two specimens of this species were obtained, both of which 

 are imperfect at base, and may be only branches from a much larger 

 specimen. Each specimen is once dichotomous and both main branch- 

 es are subpinnate, giving off branchlets at distances of '25 to "50 of an 

 inch, which spread outward at a wide angle, often nearly at right an- 

 gles. Some of these again divide in the same manner. The terminal 

 branchlets are rather slender and mostly from 1 to 1'5 inches long, 

 narrowed at base and usually enlarged a little toward the end. The 

 verrucse are prominent, loosely imbricated, usually slightly appressed, 

 but sometimes not at all so, usually with an elongated, acute lower lip, 

 formed of long slender spicula, which project slightly at the end. 

 The upper lip is rudimentary or entirel}^ wanting. On the larger 

 branches the lower lip is often but little developed, and the large cells 

 open outward. The ccenenchyma is thin, covered with long sjjindles, 

 some of them quite stout. Axis black in the larger branches ; yellow- 

 ish brown, slender, and brittle in the branchlets. 



Height of largest specimen 5*5 inches; breadth 4; diameter of 

 branchlets "lO to '16 ; length of longest verrncai •lO ; diameter '05. 



The spicula are white and consist mostly of long, very slender spin- 

 dles, most of which are very acute ; and larger and stouter, but quite 



