1899.] CORALS FEOM PTJNArUTI. 49 



been rubbed off ; but what remains of the coenenchyma is thin. 

 The polyps arise almost perpendicularly, and mostly on the two 

 sides. The end of a branch bears two polyps, one slightly in 

 advance of the other, but neither truly terminal. The polyps 

 are '92 mm. in height by 1'3 mm. in breadth at the base. 



The spicules of the coenenchyma are chiefly four-rayed stars 

 and flattened curved spindles, giving off spines from the convex 

 side. They are •12 mm. long by "2 mm. broad. 



The polyps are covered with broad flat spicules, somewhat 

 triangular in shape, with branched lateral outgrowths. They are 

 •22 mm. x '49 mm. (length by breadth). 



The operculum is eight-rayed ; each ray consists of two broadish 

 spicules, converging at the apex. Their bases rest on a horizontally 

 placed spicule, curved in shape and somewhat spiny. The 

 opercular spicules are "31 mm. x "07 mm. 



The axis is horny, flexible, with the centre divided into chambers. 



The colour of the colony in spirit is reddish brown. The 

 spicules of the coenenchyma and polyps are bright red, those of the 

 operculum white. 



Hah. Outer slope of Ellice Island. Depth 40-71 fathoms. 



This form differs from V. intrkata Grray in the size of the polyps 

 and of the spicules, the ai'rangement of the polyps, and the colour 

 of the spicules. 



It differs from V. mauritiensis Eidley (5) in the size of the 

 polyps, the shape of the spicules of the verrucse, and the colour 

 of the colony. 



It differs' from V. Jtabellata Whitelegge (9) in the colour and 

 form of the spicules. 



It differs from V. nigrescens Duchassaing & Michelotti (1) in 

 the form and size of the verrucse and in the colour of the colony. 



MuRiCELLA FLExiLis, n. sp. (Plate III. figs. 1, 2.) 



There is one small specimen of this form. It is 130 mm. in 

 height and 70 mm. across the widest part. The main stem is 

 1*5 mm. in diameter near the base. 



Branching takes place in one plane, the branching arisiug from 

 two sides of the stem. Lateral branches are borne in the same 

 plane. The branches are slightly flattened in the plane of branch- 

 ing ; they all end in a small flat expansion with two lateral polyps 

 borne close to the apex, making it somewhat hammer-shaped. 



The calyces are '9 mm. by '8 mm. in diameter at the base. The 

 polyps are only partially retracted, the heads, measuring -6 mm. 

 X '5 mm. in diameter, being visible above the verrucse. 



The spicules are spindle-shaped, with warts not very thickly 

 placed. They are 1-105 mm. x "09 mm., -83 mm. x '073 mm., 

 •18 mm. X "027 mm. 



The colour in spirit is dirty white, the brown axis showing 

 through the thin white coenenchyma. 



Hob. Outer slope of the reef of Funafuti. Depth 40-71 fathoms. 



This specimen differs from M. tenera Eidley (5) in the greater 

 Pkoc. Zool. Soc— 1899, No. IV, 4 



