Hicksonella, a New Gorgonellid Genus. B>i J. J. Simpsoii. (_33'? 



the colony. Towards the base the polyps iliminish in number while 

 on the basal 4 or 5 cm. they are altogether absent. No definite 

 arrangement is discernible, and young polyps occur scattered 

 amongst the older forms. 



The verrucje are elongated anil club-shaped (])1. XIII. fig. 4a); 

 they are about 1"5 mm. in lengtii and about (I'o mm. in diameter 

 near the apex. They are not retractile into the cceuenchyma, and 

 the swollen terminal part is due to the withdrawal of the antho- 

 cpdia within the verruca. They are densely spiculose, and the 

 scales on the aboral surface of the tentacles form a pseudo- 

 operculum to the partially retracted anthocodia. Fig. 46 shows 

 the characteristic appearance of the portion figured in 4'( from the 

 non-polyp-bearing asjiect. 



The spicules (pi. XIII. fig. 5) of this species are very character- 

 istic. The following are some of the chief types, with measure- 

 ments, lengtii by breailth, in millimetres : — 



1. Thick, mas.sive, wartv .spindles. (O-OaS x 0-015; 0-049 



X 0-011; 0-0.'58 X 0-015; 0-038 x 0-011.) 



2. Smaller ; usually curved spindles with the warts more 



developed on the convex side. (0-046 X 0-008; 0-031 

 X 0-008.) 



3. Irregular scales (from the verrucae). (0-031 x 0-011; 



0-027 X 0-015.) 



4. Aberrant type, resembling crosses. (0-034 x 0-023.) 



5. Peculiar, bilaterally svmmetrical type with a sort of thick 



foliaceous expaii.sion. (0 - 015 x • 015 ; ■ 015 x • Oil ; 

 0-011 x 0-011.) 



6. Birotate forms (like thosi^ in SuhiToi/on/ia verriculata). 



(0-011 X 0-008; 0-008 X 0-008.) 

 LocalUi/ : — Cape Morgan, N. J AV., 10^ miles ; depth, 77 fulboms. 

 By dredge. Eocks and broken shells (2(). vii. 1901). 



Hicksonella cape.nidx sp. n. Plate XIII. figs. 0, 7. 



This species has been establislied to include a very character- 

 i.stic colony 75 cm. in lengtii without tiie basal portion. The 

 diameter at the present base is 3-5 mm.; midway it is 3-25 mm., 

 while near the tip it is 3 mm., so that tlie lain'iing is very slight. 

 The actual tij) is conii-al. 



The colony is twisted in an irreguhir (i|icm spiral thruugliout 

 its entire length, but in such a way that tlic bare tract is always 

 to the inside. 



The coeiienchynia is extreiiu'ly lliiii and is dcnsi'ly s])ii'ulose. 

 The axis is cum])os('d dl' concentric lainiiia-, wiiich consist of a 

 horny substant^e iinpregnated with some form of calcanMius niatU^r. 

 It is verv hard, wliite in colour, and the surface is marked by deep 

 longitudinal furrows. It tapers to a hair-like fineness at tlie tip. 



A 3 



