but are not infrequently disposed on three sides of the smaller branches. Quite a number of 

 the medium sized branches are round in section. 



A cross section of a branch shows a rather thin coenenchyma and a comparatively thick 

 axis cylinder with a central white core. The water-vascular canals are not prominent. 



The individual calyces are low verrucse the margins of which are 8-lobed and do not 

 seem capable of closing over the retracted polyps. A typical calyx measures i mm. to the top 

 of the infolded mass of tentacles and is i mm. broad at its base. The calyx walls are filled 

 with transversely placed slender crimson spindles which tend to an en chevron arrangement 

 near the margin. The polyp has a well-marked collaret of similar spindles beset with sharp 

 thorny points, and the tentacle bases bear similar crimson spindles arranged longitudinally on 

 their dorsal surfaces. On the proximal parts of the tentacles these spindles tend to an en 

 chevron arrangement. These spicules show in conspicuous relief against the pallid substance 

 of the tentacles. 



Spicules. These are mainly slender spindles with their surfaces often comparatively 

 smooth and often, especially in the case of the spindles, beset with sharp thorny points. Many 

 of these slender spindles are curved and some of them are relatively very large, attaining a 

 length of 1.5 mm. These large spicules are generally on the surface of the coenenchyma, where 

 they are longitudinally disposed. I do not find any stellate forms such as are described as 

 occurring in Platycaulus danielsseni. 



Color. The colony is a very dark rich wine-color or dark crimson. The polyps (in 

 alcohol) are white with crimson spicules, but they may have been yellow in life. 



This species bears a superficial resemblance to Gorgonia radula Mobius J , but the 

 spicules are entirely different. 



1 Neue Gorgoniden des Naturhistorischen Museums zu Hamburg, Jena, 1861, p. 9, pi. HI- 



SIBOGA-EXPED1TIE XIII i 4 . 



