ALCYONARIA — J. A. THOMSON AND DORIS L. MACKINNON. 103 



ai-e smaller than those described for P. /if.uua, ami :ire suioolhcr 

 and of more simple outline. The chii-f point of ditterence, liow- 

 ever, lies in the mode of branching, whiuii in F. penaa is close 

 and typically foiither like. Versluys speaks of as many as 

 twenty-three twigs on each side of a hianch in a stretch of 5 cm.; 

 these twigs, moreover, are rn-ver longer tli<an 3 cm and are always 

 unbranched. 



Locality. — Elevt'n miles east of Broken Bay. 



Pl.r.M.VliBLI^.V THEll.S, sp. „oe. 



(Plate Ixvi., tig. .') ; pi. Ixviii , lig. 6 ; pi. lx.\vi ) 



Stations 34, 40, 42, 47, 4 S, 53. 



This hand.some new species is well represenl(!il by drii-d speci- 

 mens; two siiiall pieces are preserved in spirit. 



The colonies are lypicailj' feather-like. The long, frond-like 

 branches liear on each side a row of alternating twigs. These 

 twigs occasionally branch in the same pinnate manner, iiut 

 usually remain simple. The polyps rarely occur on two sidrs of 

 the twigs; usually they are airanged all over the twigs in close 

 spirals. On the larger branches they may he contined to two 

 sides, or they may be scattered indefinitely over the whole ^urface. 



None of the specimens show the basal portion. The most 

 richly-branched colony ha.s a height of 32 cm., with a wiiltli of 

 53 cm. The stem luis a diameter of 5 mm. The twigs average 

 3-4-5 CQi. in length, with a diameter of 2 nun. There are about 

 fourteen twigs on each side in a length of 5 cms. 



Some of the colonies are much more heavily built. A single 

 frond is 43cm. long, with a dianuter of 5-5 mm. at the ba.se. 

 The twigs in this ca.se are tJ-lOcm. long, with a diameter of 

 2-3 mm., and only seven to eight occur in each row in a h-nglh of 

 5 cm. 



The polyps are very closely crowded over the twigs. Their 

 average length is 1 mm. The calyx scales aie arranged in longi- 

 tudinal rows, of which the abaxials alone are complete. Tiiese 

 consist of about six relatively large, overlapping scales. The 

 adaxial rows are reduced to about one snndl stale, and the adaxial- 

 laterals are also very few in number and are overlapped by the 

 abaxial-laterals. The calyx scales are broail, sliiehl like and fan- 

 like, with entire margins around the overlapping portion ; the 

 overlapped portion contains the nucleus, suriounded by numerous 

 tinely-tubeiculate warts. The clear border between the outer 

 margin and the waned portion bears radiating ridgex. The 

 following measurements were taken of the length and breadth of 



