ALCYONARIA — J. A. THOMSON AND U0R1^S 1.. MACKINNON. 1^3 



form tlif lower strntuin, over the surface of wliicli llie yellow 

 clubs are disposed in a thiu layer, which may cover the entire 

 colony, or may he connned to a hroad circle round each i">lvp- 

 opening. 



Locality. — Eleven miles east of Broken Bay, 30-40 fms. 



Previously recorded frcjm Port Curtis, Queen.sland, .j- 11 fms, 

 Port Molle, 14 lm,s , Thursday Island, Torres Stiaits, 4-6 fms.; 

 Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia (Studer). 



MOPSELLA TEXTIFORMIS, Lamarck. 



(I'lrtte Ixiii., tigs. 4 and 5.) 



Mopsella lexti/orinis, Ridley, Report Zool. Coll. II.M.b. 

 "Alert," 1884, pp. 358-360. 



The strong basal portion of what must have heen a large 

 colony. It is about 23 cm. in height, and the diameter near the 

 base i.s as much as 3 cui. The length of the inter-nudcs varies 

 from 4 to 9 mm., and of the nodes 4-6 mm. The colour of the 

 axis is rose. At the liase where it is weathered and the longi- 

 tudinal canals are exposed, the axis has a very remaikable 

 labyrinthine pattern. The main stem gives off several strong 

 branches in one plane, and these .seem to have given off numerous 

 secondary branches strikingly slender in contrast. There his been 

 abundant anastomosis'. Most of the crenenchyma has been worn 

 off, but here and there patches ivmain of a bright yellow colour. 

 In legard to spicules the specimen agrees well with Ridley's 

 description, but very few of the characteristic dentate " Hlatt- 

 keulen " have long shafts. In these spicules the shafts are usually 

 orange and the heads lemon yellow, The nodes contain the usual 

 smooth rods. 



Locality. — Lord Howe Island. 



Previously recorded from many Australasian .Stations. 



Genu.s P S I L A (J A I! A K I A, RiUI"!/. 

 PSILACABARIA (JRACILLI .\l A, liid/e,/. 



Psilacabariagracillima, Ridley, Kcp. Zool. Cull. li.M..S. "Alert," 

 1884, pp. 361-365, pi. xxxvii., figs, d-d", pi. xxxviii., figs. f-{". 



Stations 34, 36, 48 



A number uf broken pieces seem referable to Psilacaba/'iii 

 graciliima, Ridley. The chief characteristics of this tpecies may 



