V. '07. 16 



exact appearance of the type specimen as shown in fig. 2, page 

 195. One of the most complete of the colonies is 185 mm. in 

 height, and measures 100 mm. across the spread of its 

 branches. The main stem has a diameter of 5 mm. Another 

 colony reaches a height of about 330 mm. , and is very irregu- 

 larly branched. It shows anastomosis of some of the branches, 

 and in this respect differs from all the other colonies. 



As regards the spicules, only two are figured by Johnson, 

 and unfortunately no measurements are given. 



In the Irish specimens the verrucae are surrounded by large 

 spicules (similar to the one figured by Johnson) with spiny 

 projecting points, and branching tuberculated heads which 

 are embedded in the coenenchyma. These complex spicules, 

 often called " Blattkeule," measure 1'05 to 1'45 mm. in 

 length, by '45 to '55 mm. across the branching heads. Smaller 

 ones are also present, and measure '75 mm. in length by '35 

 to *4 mm. Curved spiny spindles form an operculum, and 

 similar ones lie in a ring round the top of the verrucae. These 

 reach a length of '7 to '9 mm. by '07 mm. 



The coenenchyma is crowded with spicules, the points of 

 which project from its surface. These spicules are of very 

 various shapes, the most prominent being large triradiate 

 spiny spicules, and irregularly branching ones. The former 

 measure '45 to '6 mm. between the tips of the rays, and have 

 a thickness of '08 to '11 mm. The latter measure *45 to '1 

 mm. by *16 to '3 mm. There are also numerous curved, spiny 

 spindles, '25 to '47 mm. in length by '05 mm. in diameter. 



It was unfortunately impossible to compare these Irish 

 specimens with the type, although Johnson (1862) states that 

 the latter is now in the British Museum. Mr. Jeffrey Bell 

 informs me that there is no record in the register of that In- 

 stitution of the specimen ever having been received. I have 

 also to thank Professor Thomson, who very kindly examined 

 two of the Irish specimens and stated that he considered they 

 should be described under this species. 



FAMILY GORGONIIDAE. 

 Callistephanus Koreni, Wright and Studer. 



S.E. 480. Lat., N., 51 23'; Long., W., 11 38'; 468 fms. ; 



temperature at 400 fms., 9'55 C. ; 28th August, 



1907. Several broken specimens. 

 S.R. 483. Lat., N., 51 37'; Long., W., 11 56'; 610-664 



fms.; temperature at 550 fms., 8'34 C. ; 30th 



August, 1907. One specimen. 



Several specimens of this pretty red coral were taken. The 

 largest rises from a flattened basal attachment to a height of 

 82 mm. Its greatest breadth is 111 mm., while the main 

 stem has a diameter of about 2 mm. The colony is somewhat 

 fan-shaped. The branches are given off at nearly right angles 



