Simpson — A Revision of the GorgonelUdae. 123 



densely waited ; (c) slender double-clubs, with elongated conical ends, and 

 with the constriction more or less marked ; {d) small double-clubs, with 

 almost hemispherical ends and with a definite smooth constriction : aberrant 

 forms, such as crosses, (c) also occur. There are small needles in the 

 anthocodiae. 



The following measurements, length by breadth in millimetres, will give 

 the relative proportions of these different types (see fig. 118) : 



[a) Spindles — long, thin spiny or with small warts : 0-2 x 0-034 ; 



0-15 X 0-026; 0-13 x 0-02. 

 {h) Spindles — long, thick and densely warted : 0-15 x 0-046 ; 0-13 x 0-042. 

 (c) Double-clubs — slender, with elongated ends, and with the constriction 



more or less markedly defined: 0-11 x 004.") ; 0-o99 x 0-043; 



0-087 X 0-03; O-OOo x 0-02.5. 

 {(1) Double-clubs — with massive ends, and witli a distinct, short, smooth 



constriction: 072 x 0-042; 0-072 x 0-038; 0-057 X 0-038. 

 (e) Crosses— 0-16 x 0-11 ; 0-12 x 0-12. 



(/) Needles— small (in anthocodiae) : 0-06 x 0-011; 0-04 x 0-02. 

 Locality — Amboina : 100 fathoms. 



XXXVI. Bathy.metrical Distribution-. 



The whole group is essentially littoral in its distriliution. The great 

 majority of the specimens hitherto described have been dredged within the 

 hundred-fathom line ; in fact, the only records outside this range are from 

 (1) " Challenger " Station 232, known as the Hyalomma-gvownd off Japan, 345 

 fathoms; (2) "Challenger" Station 177 off tlie New Hebrides, 130 fathoms; 

 (3) a dredging made by the "Investigator," off the Andamans in 124 fathoms; 

 and (4) off the Azores, 150 and 200 fathoms. 



At the first of these Juncclla raccmosa and Seirpearia profunda were 

 obtained, at the second Seirpearia profimda, at the third only Juncella 

 racemom, and at the fourth only Seirpearia flayellum. 



Consequently these are the only three species whioli can lay claim 

 to deep-sea forms ; and it is interesting that all the records of these 

 species are from over 100 fathoms, and also that each has been found in 

 distant localities over this deptli. At the same time it is not improbable 

 that these specimens occurred in deep water at the edge of an almost vertical 

 reef, and that these were merely " escapes " from tlie reef. 



Such records are not unknown ; and the writer has experienced similar 



occurrences in the deep water off the almost perpendicular reefs on the east 



coast of Africa. 



E2 



