30 MISS RUTH M. HARBISON ON NEW ALCYONARIA 



The following species is a Spongocles from the China Seas, presented to the Oxford 

 Museum by Captain Chimmo : — 



Spongodes chimmoi, sp. n. (PL 3. fig. 3 ; PL 4. figs. 20, 21, 22 ; PL 5. figs. 32, 33, 

 & 31.) 



belonging to the Umbellate Jlorlda group of Kiikenthal. Length 65 cm., breadth 

 50 cm., thickness 23 cm., sterile stalk 2 5 cm. Colony rigid, developed in one plane. 

 Stem has long stolons, some of which reach a length of 4 - cm. Branches given off all 

 round stem ; lower ones at right angles and upper ones vertical, but lower branches are 

 not flattened out. Polyp-bearing twigs very closely crowded together, so that the colony 

 has a very compact appearance and regular outline. Polyps in clusters of 8-16, at 

 about right angles to stalk, supported by bundles of (generally) three spicules, of which 

 one projects beyond polyp-head for 0'5 to 1*0 mm. Polyps measure O'GxO'8 mm. 

 Spicules in eight double rows of 5-6 each, all about the same size and not projecting 

 beyond base of tentacles. Stem-spicules : irregularly disposed, various shapes and sizes, 

 i. Curved spindles thickly beset with blunt spines ; ii. Spindles bifid at one end, thus 

 forming a three-armed spicule ; iii. Spindles with spines of one side very much longer 

 than those of the other ; iv. Long spines of one side grouped together in bunch, approx- 

 imately in middle of long axis ; v. Long spines drawn out so as to form third arm, but 

 arm comes from middle of spicule, and not from bifid end as in ii. ; vi. Large number 

 of much smaller spicules, some straight, some curved into semicircle, some with 3 or 4 

 arms. Spines disposed (a) evenly all over, (b) with large ones grouped together at one 

 end, or (c) in one, two, or more tufts on different parts of spicule. Long spines may he 

 absent altogether, or spicule may appear to consist of large spines only and axis 

 reduced. 



Spicules of branches and twigs elongate spindles with small blunt spines evenly 

 distributed all over surface. In main branches general tendency of spicules is to lie 

 transversely to long axis of branch, but in terminal twigs direction becomes longitudinal. 

 Tendency for spicules to lie transversely carried to marked degree in spicules of partition- 

 Avails of stem; here long axis of spicule invariably placed in horizontal axis of stem. 

 Spicules large, some nearly straight, some curved, some bifid at one end, some have 3, 

 4, or 5 arms; all covered evenly with short, blunt, very numerous spines. Also a few 

 spicules irregular in shape with much reduced spines. 



I. also found two bright red spicules in the branch partitions. These were much 

 smaller and thinner in proportion to the ordinary form of spicule, and spines very much 

 less prominent. 



Tentacles without spicules, and can be completely folded over mouth to form an 

 operculum. 



Colour. Stem and main branches white, gradually shading in the terminal twigs to 

 crimson. Polyps white. In the lowermost branches both twigs and polyps are white. 



Hah. China Seas. 



