294 CEYLON PEAEL OYSTER REPORT. 



0'2 millim. ; 0'25 millim. by 0'2 millim. ; 0'2 millim. by 0'2 millim. ; 0'25 millim. by 

 O'l 5 millim. 



(8.) Almost stellate scales, 0'25 millim. by 0"25 millim. ; 0'15 millim. by 0'15 millim. 



(9.) Warty triradiate forms, 0'25 millim. by 0'2 millim. ; 0'2 millim. by O'l 3 millim. ; 

 0'2 millim. by 0'2 millim. 



(10.) Tetraradiate forms, 0'23 millim. by O'l millim. ; 0'25 millim. by 0'15 millim. 



The variety of spicules is greater than we have seen in any other Alcyonarian. 



Heterogorgia verrilli, n. sp. Plate VI., fig. 2. 



A handsome branched colony, greyish-black in colour, 20 centims. in height by 

 8 centims. in maximum breadth. The short common stem, from which two main 

 branches arise, is 5 millims. in diameter. The branches are generally alternate, and 

 there is a tendency to swelling at the tips of the twigs. The surface of the 

 coenenchyma appears granular and bears many sponge spicules. The verrucse are 

 usually, but not constantly, disposed on the sides of the branches ; they are conical 

 warts under 1 millim. in height. In some cases the upper part of the anthocodia 

 protrudes from the cone, and is seen to bear spindle-shaped spicules. In the retracted 

 state a whorl of spindles is seen projecting vertically outwards within the margin of 

 the crater-like verruca. The characteristic spicules of the coanenchyma are more or 

 less regular, bluntly tuberculate crosses of varying dimensions, e.g., O'l millim. by 

 O'l millim. ; 0'2 millim. by 0'2 millim. There are also tuberculate double clubs and 

 rough discs of various sizes, like crosses with the arms scarcely discernible. 



The specimen, apparently a Muriceid, is very difficult to locate ; we have referred 

 it to VERRILL'S genus Heterogorgia (' Am. Journ. Sci.,' xlv. (1868), p. 413). 



Bebryce hicksoni, n. sp. Plate III., fig. 1 ; Plate VI., fig. 9. 



An imperfect specimen, irregularly branched in one plane, about 6'5 centims. 

 in height by 6 '5 centims. in breadth. There are four branches, measuring about 

 2 millims. to 2 '5 millims. in diameter, which is thicker than the main stem at its 

 base (1'5 millims.). There is distinct flattening of the branches and twigs. The cortex 

 has a smoothly granular punctate appearance and a greyish-white colour. The 

 verrucse, which are disposed mainly on the sides of the branches and twigs, usually 

 with intervals of 2 millims. to 2'5 millims. separating an adjacent pair on the same 

 side, are truncate rounded cones, crater-like when the polyps are dislodged. In many 

 cases the anthocodia? of the polyp project at the apex of the cone, and are supported 

 by triangular strands of small spicules longitudinally and transversely disposed. 

 Under low power the superficial spicules appear like rounded grains of sand or 

 like fish -roe, each grain appearing as if it had a clear nucleus surrounded by 

 a whitish rim. Higher magnification shows that there are multi-lobate warty 

 spheroidal discs, some of which show a short central boss projecting inwards ; the 



