Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 69 



present basal part, so that the colony wlieii complete must have been of 

 great length. 



The lower of the two parts under examination is 18 cm. in lencrih, the 

 upper part, which bears the tip of the colony, is 15 cm. The axis at the 

 present base is 2-5 mna. in diameter, and tapers after 18 cm. to 2 mm. In 

 the upper portion the axis tapers from 1-5 mm. to a fine point. Thus we 

 see that the part of the colony having an a.xis varying from 2 mm. to 

 1-5 mm. is wanting; and this at the lowest estimate cannot have been less 

 than 18 cm.', so that, without taking into account the basal part, the colony 

 could not have been less than 50 cm. In all probability the total length 

 would have exceeded 70 cm., so that we are dealing with a very long, simple 

 fiagelliform colony. 



The surface of the coeneuchyma is coarsely granular, and, especially on 

 the verrucae, there are numerous ridges formed by aggiegalions of spicules 

 (cf. Huhcrogorijia ornata, Thomson and Simpson). The coenenciiyma proper 

 is extremely thin ; but the large size of the verrucae renders this feature less 

 evident. 



The general colour of the colony is brick-red ; but wliere the anthocodiae 

 are not retracted they appear as wiiite specks on the tips of the verrucae. 



The polyps have a very characteristic arrangement; but this cannot be 

 regarded as specific, as it is only superficial, and may have been caused during 

 the process of killing. 



In the lower portion of the colony about one-third of tlie surface is bare ; 

 and the verrucae seem to arise in the same plane on either side, and are 

 continuous with it (fig. 28). This, of course, causes a crowding on the other 

 two-thirds. On the side diametrically opposite the above bare space there is 

 also a tract devoid of polyps (fig. 29). In tiie upper portion this arrange- 

 ment is still visible ; towards the tip of the colony, however, the polyps seem 

 to be distributed all round the coenenchyma ; but a trace of the bilateral 

 arrangement is still discernible (fig. 30). 



The verrucae are large and have the form of truncated cones ; they stand 

 perpendicularly to the coenenchyma. Tlie largest are 4 mm. in height and 

 2'5 mm. in diameter at the base; but towards tlie tip of the colony they are 

 only 2'5 mm. in height and 1 mm. in diameter. 



The larger of the verrucae are markedly conical ; Imt llie younger forms 

 are very much flattened owing to the contraction of the lliin walls ; they are 

 then less definite in position ; and many iiave their tips eitlior incurved or 

 directed upwards. When partially retracted they have a very marked eight- 

 rayed structure at the summit, and show eight to twelve longitudinal ridges 

 formed by segregations of spicules. 



