550 Veirill, JVbtes on RacUata. 



warts on each end. Many small spicula have a wider median space 

 and one whorl, with a terminal cluster close to it, on each end ; mi- 

 nute rounded heads are frequent. The polyp-spicula are mostly 

 bright red, but some yellow ; they are mostly rather slender with few 

 slight denticulations on one or both sides. The longer double- 

 spindles measure -102'"'" by •036'""\ -096 by '036, '090 by -030, -084 

 by -030; the stouter ones -090 by '036, -084 by -036, 078 by '036; 

 the small spicula with single whorl on each end "054 by '024, -048 by 

 •024, -040 by -024. 



La Paz, — 6 to 8 fathoms, by divers, — J. Pedersen. 



Leptogorgia piilchra, var. exilis, nov. 



Corallum flabelliform, loosely reticulated, with larger, squarish or 

 oblong meshes. Branchlets quite slender, roundish, with smaller, 

 scattered, sometimes prominent, but more commonly scarcely raised, 

 rounded verrucse, which are mostly arranged alternatingly in about 

 four rows on the branchlets, on the terminal ones often in a single 

 row on each edge. 



Color, as in the typical form, variable, but always formed by a 

 mingling of some shade of red with bright yellow or orange spicula, 

 in various proportions. Some of the specimens are 12 to 15 inches 

 high and about as wide ; branchlets "04 to "07 in diameter ; meshes 

 •2U to -25 wide ; -25 to -75 high. 



The spicula agree very nearly in size, form, and color with those of 

 the typical form. 



La Paz, by pearl divers, — J. Pedersen. 



Several specimens of this variety are in the collection. They differ 

 so much from the typical specimens, which are more numerous, that 

 they might readily be mistaken for a distinct species, but one large 

 specimen has the branches, branchlets, and verrucse of the typical 

 form throughout the greater part of its extent, but toward one edge 

 they gradually diminish in size, while the verrucse diminish at the 

 same time in size and number, until we have the extreme form of the 

 slender variety, forming a considerable portion of the upper end and 

 one edge of the frond, thus proving the specific identity of the two 

 forms. The spicula, also, even from extreme specimens of each form, 

 show very little variation. 



This species in external form has considerable resemblance to L. 

 media and X. Agassizii. The typical form has about the same sized 

 branchlets and meshes as the former, but has more prominent ver- 

 rucas ; it is much coarser than L. Agassizii and has larger meshes, 



