186 PEECY SLADEN TEUST EXPEDITION. 



are: r53x-119, 1-7X-17, 1-955X-17, 2-38X-204.. In tlie lower part of the stem the 

 spindles become shorter and stouter (-eSx-llO, -595 X '152, -153 X ■085 mm.), and at the 

 base they are largely supplemented by clubs (-SiX-OSG, -221 X -171, -173 x '085 mm.), 

 triradiate and irregular forms, many of which are tinged with, mauve and pink. 

 Locality. AmLi'ante, 29 fms. 



52. Stereone'phthya macrospiculata, sp. n. (Plate 9. fig. 8; Plate 14. fig. 8.) 



The specimens of this curious form are small colonies 1-3 cm. in height, all showing 

 the same characteristic habit of growth. Each has a slightly encrusting base, from 

 which arises a stout rigid stem about l-2-l'5 cm. in diameter, which is surrounded at a 

 height of about 1 cm. from the base by a down-rolled collar-like expansion. Above this 

 come ofi" several branches like great jagged thorns, which either bear one terminal polyp 

 or else split ujj into a group of sharp, polyp-bearing twigs. 



The colony is extremely hard and rigid, being furnished with a dense armature of 

 spicules, which attain in the base to the huge dimensions of 9xl'5 mm. In the coUar- 

 shaped expansion they are smaller, 2'5X'2o, 4x5 mm. The largest spicules are those 

 of the "Stiitzbiindel," 6-5x1, 9x2, 10xl"5 mm. These spicules are all of the same 

 general type, namely, stout spindles covered with numerous, small, slightly tuberculate 

 warts. 



One or two of the " Stutzbundcl " spicules project slightly beyond the polyp-head. 

 Tlie polyp-head itself is rounded, from 2'5-3 mm. in height, and is bent down on its stalk. 

 Its armature consists of eight "points" of two main convergent spindles, bent out at 

 the base like hockey-clubs (119 x '119, 1-103 x -137, 102 x '119 mm.); a few smaller 

 spindles may occur in the angles between these. Eelow the " points " there is a 

 " collar " of 2-3 rows of stout spindles, horizontally arranged. 



The tentacles are very long, 2-5-3 mm. ; they have a row of 9 pinnules along each 

 side, and are so folded within the polyp, in the contracted condition, that the tip of each 

 touches its own base on the aboral surface and projects slightly beyond the " crown." 

 Their armature is very characteristic. From the top of the angle formed by the ■ 

 spindles of each " point " a double series of converging sj^indles, of much smaller size, 

 runs up the base of each tentacle, to give place higher up to a single median line of 

 small horizontal spindles with ievf warts and rather blunt ends, "102 X -017, '119 X "034, 

 136 X 025 mm. 



The colour of the whole colony is cream-white with grey jiolyps. 



Locality. Salomon, 120-150 fms. 



Family Siplionogorgiidae. 



The family Siphonogorgiida; is distinguished from the family Nephthyidse (1) by 

 having many more spicules in the canal-walls, (2) by the more Gorgonid-like mode of 

 growth. 



There can be little doubt that the Siphonogorgid type is derived from the iSephlhyid 

 type, and Ktikenthal calls attention to transition-forms like Spoil godes indicisa, Ktiken- 

 thal, and Siphonogoryia squarj'osa, Studer. 



