482 PROF. J. A, THOMSON AND MR. W. D. HENDERSON ON [Apr. 10, 



bviinehes end in short sliai-p- pointed cones, as seen, for instance, 

 in Leptogorgla australiensis. On the older branches the coenen- 

 chyma is tlun and shows distinct longitudinal grooves, which can 

 be traced up into some of the twigs whei'e the canienchyma is 

 much thicker. Under a lens the general texture of the surface 

 is granular. As to the polyps, many show wart-like protruding 

 verrucai, about 0*5 mm. in height, 0"75 in breadth, and 1 mm. in 

 length, the elongation being in the plane of the branch. In 

 many cases, howevei-, the contraction is complete, and only slit- 

 like apertures indicate the position of the polyps. They may 

 occui- at any point, but on the main stem and lai'gei' branches 

 they tend to be lateial. 



The transparent pale yellow spicules of the coenenchyma are 

 warty spindles, while some approach a club-shaped form. Thej 

 have the following measurements, length by breadth, in millims. : — 



(«) Spindles with warts in whorls: 0-18 x 0-04; 0-16x0-05; 

 0-18 X 0-05; 0-2 X 0-04. 



UA Spindles with irregularly-placed warts: 0*16x0'06; 0"18 

 xO-05; 0-18 X 0-06. 



(c) Small irregularly- warted spindles : 0-08 X 0-04 ; O"! x 0-04 ; 

 0-09 X 0-045. 



Locality. Cape Verde Islands. 



LoPHOGoRGiA CRISTA Mobius. (Plate XXIX. figs. 5-7.) 



Two plume-like brownish-red colonies resemble Lophogorcjxa 

 crista Mobius in the following features : — (1) the general habit of 

 the colony ; (2) the flattening of the larger bi'anches in the plane 

 of ramification; (3) the nature and thickness of the ccenenchyma ; 

 (4) the hint of striations ; and (5) the spiculation near the base. 



The two colonies measure 34 and 35 centims. in length, 6 and 

 10 centims,. in breadth; the basal (broken) ends 7 and 6 mm. in 

 one <liameter and 3*25 and 3*4 mm. in the other. 



The spicules from the lower end of the colony are '\\-arty 

 spindles, with the warts in 2-4 whorls. They are beautifully 

 coloured, with the spindle-coi'e red and the projecting warts 

 of a pale ti'anslucent yellow. The following measurements were 

 taken (in millims.) : — 



(rt) Of spindles with two whorls of warts : 0*09 x 0-05 ; O'l x 

 0-06. 



(6) Of spindles with three whorls of warts: 0-09 X 0*05; 

 0-1 x 0-06. 



(c) Of spindles with four whorls of warts: 0-1 x 0-04; 0-12 x 

 0-06. 



Spicules taken from the tips of the branches are slightly 

 difteront fi^om those at the base. Many of them are longer, 

 more slender spindles with up to 10 whorls of warts. The 

 following measurements wei-e taken of length and breadth in 

 millims. :— 0-18 X 0-04 ; 0-19 x 0-04 ; 0-16 x 0-06 ; 0-13 x 0-06. 

 The maiority are coloiu'ed like those .at the base, but there 

 are also some wholly yellow forms with warts either legnlai'ly or 

 irregularly disposed. 



