

long axis of the branch and seldom attaining a length of over i mm. The margin appears to 

 be divided into shallow lobes lying horizontally. The polyps are small, with delicate fringed 

 tentacles, their bodies bearing eight longitudinal bands of very slender spindles. The tentacles 

 appear to be unarmed. 



A cross section of a branch shows a horny axis surrounded by very large watervascular 

 canals symmetrically arranged on all sides of the axis, their cavities being larger than those 

 of the calyces. 



S p i c u 1 e s. These are all very small and the prevalent type is a very deeply tuberculate 

 spindle with the tubercles arranged in definite series or zones. Clubs are also common. There 

 are no well-defined layers of spicules in the ccenenchyma. 



Color. The colony is very light brown, in alcohol. The axis is almost black proximally, 

 and lightens distally. It has a slender, white core, which is not calcareous. 



This species is probably identical with Plexaura antipathes var. flexuosa Thomson and 

 Henderson. Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fisheries Report, the Alcyonaria, 1895, P- 35- 



It seems a very distinct species, however, differing from Plexaura antipathes in having 

 no violet spicules. 



A specimen from Stat. 258 is much larger than the one described, being 90 cm. in 

 height, with a main stem 2 cm. in diameter. At the base there is a solid, flinty, calcareous 

 layer surrounding a horny core 7 mm. in diameter. The axis of the branches is entirely horny. 



2. Plexaura attenuata new species. (Plate I, figs. 2, 2 a; Plate IV, fig. 2). 



Stat. 162. Between Loslos and Broken Islands, West coast of Salawatti. 18 meters. 

 Stat. 164. i42'.5 S., I3047'.s E. Near New Guinea. 32 meters. 

 Stat. 285. 839'.iS., 127 4'.4E. Timor Sea. 34 meters. 

 "Bay of Batavia. Professor StUITER leg.". 



Specimen (incomplete) consisting of a straight, wand-like stem about 37 cm. long, from 

 which project three short, straight branches all of which have their distal ends broken off. The 

 greatest diameter of the main stem is 3 mm., tapering to 2 mm. near its distal end. The 

 calyces are evenly distributed on all sides of the colony, but are larger and further apart than 

 in Plexaura aggregata. Nearly all of the polyps are partly extended, and this gives the calyces 

 the appearance of being partly exserted and verruciform. In fact, however, the calyces are 

 hardly raised above the general level of the ccenenchyma when the polyps are retracted, 

 although there may even then be a slight swelling. 



The individual calyces are about 1.7 mm. in diameter, and when the polyp is retracted 

 the calicular margin shows eight very plain scallops or lobes which are larger and deeper than 

 in the preceding species. The polyps are able to protrude their bodies considerable above the 

 calyces and still keep the tentacles folded within the body walls, where they form an acorn- 

 shaped mass, the individual tentacles being plainly seen within the transparent body wall. The 

 lower part of the polyp shows very delicate longitudinal bands of spicules. 



