CORALS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 881 



section tlirough a branch shows (1) the horny brown axis in the 

 centre, (2) a ring of canals grouped round the axis, and (3) ex- 

 ternally, the cavities of the polyps arranged in a circumferential 

 series. 



The spicules are situated on the verrucse, on the septa between 

 the polyp cavities and surrounding the horny axis. These spicules 

 are very abundant and are as a rule placed in a radial direction ; 

 they are of two kinds, viz. (1) the characteristic torch-like spicules 

 and (2) spindles. The torch-like spicules measure about 0'068 x 

 0-025 and the spindles from 0-0935 x 0-034 to 0-136 x 0-0374 mm. 



A portion of a colony of Ennicella papulosa was dredged in 

 Simon's Bay during the voyage of the ' Challenger,' and Hickson 

 has also recorded it from Rij Bank (Algoa Bay) at a depth of 

 25 fathoms. Hickson also di-aws attention to the remarkable 

 resemblance between the spicules of Goi-gonia albicans and those 

 of Eanicella jxipillosa, moi-e especially in regard to the torch-like 

 spicules. 



He says, " The examination of m}' prepai-ations of spicules 

 alone would lead any one to the conclusion that they were taken 

 fi'om the same species. Yet the specimen of EuniceUa papillosa 

 obtained on Rij Bank, 25 fathoms, has a c^dindrical axis and 

 prominent verrucse, whilst the specimen of Gorgonia albicans 

 picked up on the beach at Port Alfred has a very much flattened 

 axis, thin ccenenchyma, and inconspicuous verrucae." 



Hickson thinks that there is justification in transferring 

 Eanicella papillosa to the family Gorgoniidse, and that EuniceUa 

 'papillosa and Gorgonia albicans should probably be included in 

 the same genus. 



Locality, etc. — F.F. 15801. Oflf Seal Island, S.S.E. 21 miles, 

 and Seal Island, S. by E. 21- miles. Procured by dredge. Depth, 

 9-10 fathom.s. Nature of bottom, bx'oken shells. Date, October 30, 

 1902. 



PSAMMOGORGIA PULCHRA, sp. n. (PI. XLIII. fig. 5 ; PI. XLV. 

 figs. 3 a & 6.) 



This very beautiful form has an orange ground-colour, with 

 the red tips of the tentacles projecting. The colonies are not 

 all complete. A small colony (P.P. 858) consists of a fairly 

 flat, expanded, basal part which gives rise to two upright shoots, 

 one of which branches into two, the other being simple. The 

 basal part of the colony is 11 mm. in length, 6 mm. in breadth, 

 and 3 mm. in height. The simple, upright shoot is 9 mm. in 

 height, 2 mm.basally and 4 mm. apically in diameter. The other 

 (divided) shoot is 28 mm. in height, 3 mm. in diameter at the 

 base and 5 mm. at the apex. The branches are thus expanded at 

 the apex. Another specimen (13345), which is probably not quite 

 complete, has a verj' small basal part. The base gives rise to a 

 main shoot (2 mm. in diameter), which at a distance of 9 mm. from 

 its origin sends oft' a lateral branch about 12 mm. in height ; a 

 second small branch is given oft' from the main shoot aftei' an 



