COLLECTED BY DR WILLEY IX NEW BRITAIN, ETC. 497 



polyp consists of two parts ; a part which can be completely retracted and a part 

 which owing to the constitution of the wall cannot be retracted. In the specimen 

 the first named part of each polyp was retracted, and we cannot give any estimate 

 of its length in consequence. The non-retractile portion of each polyp however pro- 

 jects about 2 mm. from the branch and is about 1 mm. in diameter. The substance 

 of the branches is fairly soft, the coenenehyni being leathery in consistency, strength- 

 eued at its periphery by long, minutely warted spindle-shaped spicules (Fig. 4). These 

 spicules vary from 3'3 mm. x '27 mm. to l.S mnj. x 'IS mm. 



Habitat. Blanche Bay, 30 fathoms. 



This species differs from all the other species of the genus which have been 

 adequately described, in the size and character of the spindle-shaped spicules and in 

 the feature that the polyps are numerous and crowded The absence of longitudinal 

 grooves distinguishes it from Telesto riisei (Duch. and Mich.) and T. arborea (W. and S.). 



Anatomical structure (PI. LI. Fig. 12). On making a transverse section through 

 one of the branches, it may be seen to be perforated by a number (8 — 10) of polyp 

 cavities arranged in a d-efinite manner as regards the axis — the dorsal side of each 

 polyp, indicated by the dorsal mesenterial filaments, being turned towards the axis 

 as in other Alcyonarian colonies. The raesogloea is moderately thick and is penetrated 

 by numerous endodermal canals (c.c). These canals are in all cases of small diameter, 

 no large endodermal canals such as we find in Xema (1) and in some of the Gor- 

 gonacea being found in this genus. The canals communicate with the polyp cavities, 

 and from the fact that the polyp cavities communicate with these canals at their 

 proximal ends, as they do in Alci/oniuui, it is probable that they give rise to the 

 young buds. The polyp cavities do not communicate with one another directly. The 

 substance of the mesogloea also contains a number of small bipolar cells, but the 

 preservation of the mesogloea is not iii a sufficiently satisfactory state to allow us 

 to follow the histology into further details. 



It can be positively stated that there is no axis of any kind, not any axial 

 canal comparable to the axial canal of Coelogoiyia. Notwithstanding the resemblance 

 to a Gorgonacean, therefore, that this species of Telesto may be considered to have, 

 it is unquestionably Alcyonaceau. The specimen is a female but the gonads are 

 probably very immature. 



Family. Xephthyidae. 



This family is represented in Dr Willey's collection by several specimens which 

 belong to the genei-a Spongodes and Nephthya. 



The genus Spongodes appears to be fairly well-defined and is widely distributed 

 in the shallow waters of the tropics of the Old World. A great many species have 

 been described based upon such characters as size, colour, form and the character 

 of the spicules. Many of these so-called species appear to be very closely related, 

 and it is po.ssible that on a revision of the genus based upon anatomical details 

 many of the specific names will have to be struck out of the list. The genus 

 Nepldhya presents us with many difficulties, and not the least of these is that some 



