CORALS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 877 



spinous spindles, from 0-153 x 0-025 to 0-170 x0'025 mm.; 

 4-rayed forms, 0051 x 0-051 mm. 



The spicules of the polyps are (1) curved spindles, (2) straight 

 spindles, and (3) irregular spicules. The dimensions of these 

 spicules are as follows: — Curved spindles, from 0-136x0-017 to 

 0-250x0-034 mm.; straight spindles, from 0'023x0'051 to 

 0-255 X 0-056 mm.; irregular spicules, from 0-068x0-051 to 

 0-170 X 0-085 mm. The spicules of the polyps may be contrasted 

 with those of the coenenchyma by the predominance of straight 

 and cui'ved spindles. 



The 'Challenger' specimens were collected (1) off the New 

 Hebrides at a depth of 60-120 fathoms, (2) on Hy alonema-gr onnd, 

 off Japan, at a depth of 345 fathoms. These specimens differ 

 from mine in the colour of the coenenchyma and axis ; the 

 coenenchyma being reddish brown and the axis yellowish red. 

 In both, the polyps were yellow and the nodes dai'ker than the 

 internodes. The shape of the spicules of my specimen rather 

 differs from that of the ' Challenger ' forms, but, on the other 

 hand, the spicules seem to vary so much within this species that 

 I do not feel inclined to lay great stress on this point. 



Locality, etc.— F.F. 18381. Off Flesh Point, N. 6 miles to 

 Flesh Point, IST. | W. 6| miles. By large trawl. Date, 

 January 15, 1904. , 



Melitodes dichotoma Pall. 



Fragments of a red variety of this species. This species has 

 already been recorded from the Cape. It is interesting to note 

 its occmn-ence in such shallow water, namely from 6-14 fathoms. 

 At Gordon's Bay, in all probability it may be thrown up on the 

 shore during storms, as is so much the case with Gorgoniajlamviea 

 E. & S. 



Locality, etc.—V.Y. 15725. Off Gordon's Bay. By dredge. 

 Depth, 6-14 fathoms. Nature of bottom, rock. Date, October 20, 

 1902. 



Family IsiD^. 



Ceratoisis ramosa Hickson. (Plate XLIII. fig. 1.) 



This beautiful form has already been described by Hickson 

 from South African waters. The species is very fragile, and the 

 delicate terminal branchlets are very liable to become broken 

 away. In Hickson's specimen the base was wanting, but my 

 specimens are more complete in this respect. The calcareous base 

 measures about 8 mm. in length, 4 mm. in breadth, and 2 mm. in 

 height. 



The height of the complete specimen would be about 100 mm. 

 The first part of the main stem immediately above the base is 

 brown or bronze in colour. 



My specimens agree with Hickson's description of forms col- 

 lected oflf Yasco da Gama Peak at a depth of 230 fathoms. 



The distribution of colour on the colony appears to vary. The 



