THOMSON AND EUSSELL — AXIFEEA. 149 



The polyps contain numerous embryos about 1 mm. in diameter, many showing an 

 invagination at one pole. These and similar bodies will be discussed in a subsequent 

 paper. 



Localities. Salomon, 60-120 fms. ; Providence (D 4), 50-78 fms. 



Genus ECHINOGORGIA. 



18. Echinogorgia pseudosasappo, KoUiker. 

 Por description see : — 



Wright and Studer : 'Challenger' Report, xxxi. 1889, pp. 119-120, pi. 23. fig. 9, pi. 25. fig. 5. 

 A fine example of this well-known species, 15 cm. high by 17 cm. broad. 

 Localities Amirante (E 15), 35 fms. ; Saya de Malha (C 4), 125 fms. 

 Previously recorded from. East Indian Seas [Esper) ; Torres Straits ( Wright and Studer, 

 1889); and from Ceylon (i2«c^^ey, 1883 ; Thurston, ISQQ; Thomson and Men derson, 1905). 



19. Echinogorgia ramosa, sp. n. 



This species resembles in its STpicules Echinogorgia wj?fZ^2spM20sa, Thomson andHenderson, 

 and both diverge somewhat from the spiculation seen in E. sasappo and the like. Thus 

 there are no " Blattkeulen," nor stellate discs, nor one-sided spiny spindles. In some 

 ■nays E. ramosa resembles Anthogorgia, and may be regarded as connecting the two 

 genera. 



The colony is large and profusely branched, mostly in one plane. The main stem is 

 7 mm. thick, and arises from a large, soft basal expansion of the horny axis, 6 cm. across. 

 The colony reaches a height of 45 cm. and a breadth of 30 cm. Anastomosis occurs, 

 but sparingly, the branching being on the whole free. The main branches are somewhat 

 contorted and about 4 mm. in diameter. 



The general colour of the colony is a dingy brown. 



The axis is dark brown, and is very soft in the terminal branches. 



The verrucse occur on all sides, sparingly on the main stem, rather densely on the 

 branches and twigs, being distant on an average 2 mm. from one another. The verruca 

 is a truncated cone 1*5 mm. in basal diameter and about 1 mm. in height. The polyps 

 are wholly retractile. The mouth of the verruca is closed by incurving of the margin, 

 or there may be a circular aperture left. 



There is a low operculum, consisting of eight pairs of slender, curved spindles forming 

 narrow triangles or points, and resting on a crown of spicules formed of one or two rows. 



The coenenchyma is moderately thin, especially on the main branches, and is crowded 

 with spicules. The spicules, which are mainly warty spindles, are all colourless. 



The following forms were noted and measured (in millimetres) : — 



(«) Warty spindles : 0-35 X 0-096, 032 X 0-088, 0-176 X 0-088. 

 (6) Slender curved spindles : 0-28 X 0-026, 0-37x0035. 



(c) Spindles broadened and divaricate at one end : 0-44 X 0-24, 0-38 X 0-16. 



(d) Irregularly-shaped discs, frequently quadriradiate : 0-28x0-21, 0-33x0-23. 



20* 



