CORALS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 887 



longitudinal rows. The sjljicules of the verrucre show considerable 

 variation: they may be grouped in two sets, na,nlely (1) those 

 covering the lower Or general surface of the v^rruese, and (2) the 

 apical or opercular spicules. The lowei" spicules Of the verruca? 

 are triangular, rectangular, scale-like or plate-like 'spicules. In 

 their imbricate ai-rangemeiit ai\d also in their shape, these spicules 

 remind one of the scales of fishes. Their surface is marked, except 

 near the margin, by a number of small, rounded pores, which are 

 arranged more or less in rows running in the diTrection of the long 

 a.xis of the polyp. The margins of these scale-like spicules is 

 frequently, wholly or partially dentate. The opercular spicules 

 situated at the apices of the ^^^rrucse differ lA shape from those 

 last described. They are more or less triangular, with a 

 projecting spine in front, the entire spicule resembling a Skate 

 {Raia) in form. These Opercular spicules are eight in number and 

 their spines project towards the central opening of the verruca. 

 The surface of these opercular spicules have pores similar to those 

 of the lower part of the verruca. 



The dimensions of the spicules are as foll6ws : — («) lower 

 spicules of the verruca? from O'-l 105 X 0-1615 to 0-187 x 0-221 mm. : 

 [h) the apical or opercular spicules (includiug the spine) from 

 0-289 X 0-1.36 to 0-561 X 0-255 mm-. 



The spicules covering the m^in stem Af the colony are similar to 

 those of the lower part of the verrucse, but are frequently much 

 smaller. They have a more Or less irregular arrangement and do 

 not as a rule overlap on-e another. Their size is very variable, 

 ranging from 0-068x0*025 to 0-221 x 0-153 mm. 



Around the basal part of the colony a Polj^zoan is encrusted, 

 and intertwined among the \ipper branches are small Ophiuroids. 



Locality, etc.~V.t. 14265. Off Cape St. Francis, N.E. by E. 

 .32 miles. By dredge. Depth, 74 fathOms. IS''ature of bottom, 

 rocks, bate, :^ebruary l9, 1902. 



Family G 'o R G o N i i D ^, 



GORGONIA CAPENSIS Hickson. 



This is a beautiful example of a species described by Hickson 

 from the Cape in 1900. 



Hickson's specimen is larger, namely 250 mm. in length, while 

 my example is only l40 mm. long. 



The spicules are warty spindles ("iDoppelspindeln" of Kolliker). 

 The average length of these spindles in Hickson's specimen is 

 O'l mm. ; in mine they are smaller-, namely, from 0-0544x0-034 

 to 0-0935x0-034 mm. 



In 1900 HicksOn recorded tliis species as a viviparous Alcyo- 

 narian, and in 1905 Thomson and Henderson corroborated this 

 discovery in specimens from Ceylon. 



The Ceylon specimens were collected in deep as well as in 

 shallow w^ter. They were larger than either of the Cape 

 specimens, and were practicall}" white. Hickson's specimen was 



61* 



