10 BULLETIN OF THE 
AA. Branches, if present, arise from the horny joints. 
Acanella, Ccoenenchyma and calicles filled with large fusiform spicula. Calicles 
armed, 
Lepidisis. Calicles filled with large fusiform spicula. Coenenchyma with a 
layer of small oblong scales. Calicles armed. 
Isidella (?). Coenenchyma and calicles with fusiform spicula. Calicles un- 
armed (?). 
Nearly all the known species of this group, including the largest and most 
luxuriant ones, are from comparatively deep water, and consequently require 
cold, or at least cool temperatures. Several species are arctic, or inhabit the 
deep fishing banks off the northern coasts of Europe and America, where they 
are bathed in the cold arctic currents. Some of the species are found at great 
depths (1,000 to 1,300 fathoms), where the temperature is very low. The group 
is well represented in the deep waters of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mex- 
ico. At least nine species, belonging to the four principal genera, were taken 
in those waters by the “Blake” expeditions, 1877 to 1880. Among these 
there were certainly two, and perhaps three, of our northern species. 
For the sake of comparison, I have added brief descriptions and a few figures 
of some of the West Indian forms of Acanella and Lepidisis. 
Ceratoisis Wricur. 
Keratoisis Wricut, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., IL, 1869, p. 427; III. p. 24. 
Gray, Cat. Lith. Brit. Mus., 1870, p. 18. 
In this genus the branches, which are usually few and distant, arise from the 
calcareous joints. Otherwise it agrees very closely with some of the sparingly 
branched species of Acanella. Indeed, it is difficult to determine to which 
genus some of the unbranched species should be referred. The calcareous 
joints are tubular. The calicles are strongly armed with large spiniform spi- 
cula, and the ccenenchyma also contains large fusiform spicula. 
In this genus are included the largest known species of the family. Some 
specimens of C. ornata are more than four feet high. These are found at con- 
siderable depths, in cold water, off the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova 
Scotia. 
Ceratoisis ornata VERRILL. 
Keratoisis ornata VERRILL, Amer. Jour. Sci., X VI., 1878, pp. 212, 376. 
Plate IV. Figs. 3-3d. 
Coral tall (sometimes over three feet high), distantly and irregularly 
branched, the branches spreading, often nearly at right angles, elongated, 
rather slender, gradually tapering, giving off, in the same manner, elongated 
branchlets. The branches and branchlets mostly arise from near the proximal 
