67 



lighter colour. Towunls the tip of the main stem and of the branches it 

 very flexible arid thread-like. 



The stem, after giving off a branch, Divides into two principal portions, one of 

 which predominates. The secondary branches arise, from all sides of the main 

 branch, thus giving a somewhat bush-like appearance to the colony. 



The verrucce are prominent blunt cones, and arise, perpendicularly. They are 

 arranged alternately on the lateral faces of the stem and branches ; but here and 

 there this arrangement is disturbed by the occurrence of a few on one of the other 

 faces. 



The spicules in the verrucas project slightly. On the tentacles there are 

 colourless spindles arranged longitudinally, and there is a basal collaret formed of 

 one or two rows placed transversely. 



The spicules of the general coanenchynia are of two types. 



1. There are large spindles, either straight or curved, covered with rough 

 warts. They vary considerably in size, and may be simple or forked at one end. 

 Their dimensions, length by breadth in millimetres, are : 



3-4x0-55; 2x0-33; 1 '22x0-3; 0'9x0'175. 

 They are dark red, light pink, or colourless. 



2. There are smaller spindles, either straight or curved, with fewer and 

 simpler warts. These are usually colourless, but may be pink or light red. They 

 vary in length from 0'2-0'5 mm. and in breadth from O'03-O'l mm. 



The two sets of spicules shade into one another, and intermediate stages are 

 not infrequent. 



Locality : Bay of Bengal ; 88 fathoms. 



Placogorgia indica, u. sp. 



An incomplete specimen of a light brown colour, 120 mm. in height. 



The branching is on the whole in one plane, but a stump is seen near the 

 lower end of the stem which rises at right angles to the plane of branching. The 

 branches are irregular, five rising from one side and three from the other. The, 

 larger branches give off smaller branches, repeating the same arrangement. The 

 basal portion is wanting. 



The axis is horny, dark brown in colour, with a lighter core which exhibits no 

 sign of effervescence when treated with acid. It is somewhat oval in section, and 

 has its surface marked by discontinuous longitudinal ridges. In the younger 

 portions it is light yellow and soft. 



The verrucse are arranged on three sides of the stem and branches, leaving 

 one surface entirely free throughout the whole length. They are short and 

 truncate (about 0"5 mm. in height), and have a number of projecting points round 

 the apex. 



