1882.] MR. S. O. RIDLEY ON THE CORALLIIDE. 225 
belong to Corallium s. str., and is perhaps identical with C. nobile 
(see below, p. 232). In C. deckii the branches anastomose and are 
terminally dilated, both of which are characters quite wanting (as 
constant characters) in C. nodile as in all other known species ; its 
systematic position in the family is quite uncertain. 
I will now proceed to describe, first, the new species, and next the 
form which I have said is probably distinct, and then give a table 
showing the arrangement which these additions to our knowledge 
seem to render necessary. I will conclude with some remarks on 
the family and its allies, and some further notes on the fossil 
forms. 
CoRALLIUM STYLASTEROIDES, sp. nov. (Plate IX. figs. 1-4). 
Normally branching in one plane. Stem stout, irregular in 
transverse section. Branching luxuriant, apparently normally dicho- 
tomous, but subject to considerable variation. Branches tortuous, 
decidedly compressed laterally in the case of all but the peripheral 
members, arising from the antero-lateral rather than the postero- 
lateral aspects of the stem or branches from which they may be 
derived, diminishing gradually in thickness towards the peripheral 
part. A few small branchlets are scattered on sides of the larger 
branches irregularly, and are, together with the terminal branchlets, 
generally subclavate in form, consisting of a slightly contracted basal 
portion and an enlarged, pointed, and polyhedric terminal portion. 
Posterior aspect of main branches very convex, of lesser branches less 
so. Axis of corallum hard, compact, but perforated by a few canals 
(normal, or due to parasites?) of about 1 mm. diameter, which 
issue distally at various points on the lateral aspects of the branches, 
the openings being often covered by a curved lamina of hard 
material ; colour pure white throughout. 
Longitudinal strize of surface fine, about four to 1 mm.; grooves for 
polypes generally with a narrow raised lip on each side; length of 
grooves 15 to 2 mm. long (in direction of branches) by about °75 mm. 
broad, and about *5 mm. deep in the centre, which consists of a smooth- 
walled hemispherical pit. Surface of Lard axis covered by a very thin 
spicular cortex, which does not conceal the subjacent striz ; it is 
beset with minute projecting points (visible only with the aid of a 
lens) arranged along the striz of the hard axis; colour of cortex 
extremely pale orange. Verruce placed in the grooves above men- 
tioned, not projecting beyond their margins, or in slight depressions 
distributed over all parts of the corallum, but most abundantly 
on the lateral aspects of the main branches, and on the small ter- 
minal and lateral projecting branchlets ; their peripheral part con- 
sists of a pale pink collar, slightly darker than the general crust; the 
eight valves are very pale yellow in colour, actual diameter about 
°75 mm. 
Spicules of cortex of one kind only, viz. small, cylindrical, with 
one terminal tubercle at each end, and a whorl of 3 tubercles sur- 
rounding each end, and leaving a slight median space usually bare 
of tubercles ; the tubercles are broad and truncate, the ends bearing 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1882, No. XV. 15 
