Alcyonaria G 27 



The anthocodia is filled with numerous spicules arranged chevron-wise in 

 eight double rows. These spicules are slender, elongated, finely warted spindles, 

 and rod-shaped forms, some of them bent in bow shape. These spicules, as 

 warted spindles, extend into the aboral side of the tentacles, often to near the 

 tips, becoming gradually smaller, in contraction appearing nearly transverse, 

 but really in two rows, somewhat in chevrons. They do not enter the pinnules, 

 and are small at the bases of the tentacles. They are mostly stumpy, irregular, 

 warted spindles, and blunt double spindles, with a few clubs and crosses. 



The middle portion of the polyp-body also has short, blunt, roughly warted 

 spindles and double spindles, much shorter and rougher than those of the 

 anthocodia. 



The proximal part of the polyp-body has somewhat larger and more strongly 

 warted blunt spindles, with some 4-parted spicules or crosses. The spicules 

 of the exterior of the branches and stalk, are short thick strongly warted or 

 lobed ellipsoids, double-spindles, and double-heads, often nearly as broad as 

 long; many are popped-corn shaped. (PL V, fig. 5, h-1). The stomodseum has 

 eight rows of small fusiform spicules, according to Danielssen. 1 



The type of this species was from off Spitzbergen, in 267 metres. It is 

 also known from the Siberian sea and Kara sea. Molander recorded it from 

 off Newfoundland in 290 metres. Many specimens of large size were formerly 

 taken in deep water, on and between the fishing banks off Newfoundland and 

 Nova Scotia, and presented to the U.S. Fish Commission. They are mostly 

 in the U.S. National Museum. 



The description of the spiculation of this species given by Molander (op. 

 cit. 1915) does not agree well with the original description and elaborate figures 

 given by Danielssen. By the latter the anthocodial spicules are represented 

 as abundant, and so are those of the cortex of the stem and branches, but Molander 

 describes these parts as feebly spiculose. Moreover he gives the forms of 

 spicules unlike those figured by Danielssen in many cases. I have followed 

 Danielssen in this case. 



. It may prove to be merely the full-grown state of G. fruticosa, as Jungersen 

 considered it. 



Gersemia clavata (Dan.) Molander. 



Voeringia clavata DANIELSSEN, op. cit., pp. 29-32, pi. XX, figs. 45-83, 1887. 



Paraspongodes clavata STUDER, Res. Camp. Prince de Monaco in "Hirondelle," 

 Vol. XX, p. 31, 1901. 



Eunephthya crassa KUKENTHAL, Revis. Alcyon., Nephthyidse, Zool. Jahrb. 

 Abt. Syst., Vol. XXIV, 1907: Voy. Olga, 1898; Alcyon. Sib. Eismeeres, 

 1909, BROCK, Due d'Orleans, Camp. Arct., p. 19, 1912. 



Gersemia clavata MOLANDER, op. cit., pp. 48, 56, pi. 1, figs. 2-3, 8, 1915. 



Eunephthya clavata var. pellucida KUKENTHAL, Olga Exped., p. 23, pi. I/ fig. 1, 

 1906; Alcyon. Siberischen Eismeeres, p. 5, 1909. 



Plate V; Figs. 3, 3a, 4 (spicules). 



This form has the branches short and thick, often clavate, and covered 

 over most of their length with the polyps, which are usually much crowded in 

 contracted specimens. The smaller specimens are apt to be thyrsiform or 

 ovate in shape. One example before me, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is of 



Danielssen (op. cit., 1887) gave very excellent illustrations (pi. 1, 2) of the anatomy and histology of 

 this species, including the nerve-cells and ganglion cells, etc., as well as details of the spiculation. The 

 colour in life, according to him, is yellow. 



