388 THE GORGONIANS OF THE BRAZILIAN COAST. 



numerous, separated by thin interstices filled with very small granule-lik 



on 



es 



spicules. Their external orifices are very numerous, small, but easily seen 

 all parts. The external layer of spicules is compact, and composed of multitud 

 of very small double-heads, heads, and other forms. 



The axis, in the branches, is dark brown, round, slender, finely striated 

 The larger spicules are stout, blunt, evenly warted spindles and irregular twinned 

 spicules. The regular crosses are of moderate size, with short blunt and warted 

 tips. Three-rayed spicules and various irregular forms are abundant. Among 

 the small external spicules are many rosettes, double-rosettes, double-heads 

 club-cones, rosette-cones, etc. 



The larger double-spindles measure 0.49 X 0.19; 0.44 X 0.15; 0.38 X 0.11 • 

 0.29 X 0.13; twinned spindles, 0.45 X 0.17; 0.38 X 0.11; crosses, 0.39 X 0.18; 

 0.30 X 0.22; 0.26 X 0.25; 0.23 X 0.22; 0.19 X 0.19; tripartite forms, 0.26 X 

 0.19; 0.26 X 0.16; 0.22 X 0.15; clubs, 0.22 X 0.11; 0.19 X 0.11; double-clubs, 

 0.19 X 0.14; rosettes, 0.08 X 0.08; double-rosettes, 0.16 X 0.08 mm. 



Candeias, Pernambuco, Brazil. C. F. Hartt Exped. Type, No. 4503, 

 Yale Museum. 



Subgenus PSEUDEUNICEA V., no v. (see p. 383). 

 Plexaurella (Pseudeunicea) grandiflora Verrill, sp. nov. 



Plate XXXI, figure 6 (general figure of No. 4501, reduced). Plate XXXII, 

 figure 10 (calicles enlarged). Plate XXXIV, figure 1 (spicules of the same). 

 Plate XXXV, figures 3, 3a (portions of tips of axis). 



Coral stout, dichotomous from near the base. The type divides at three 

 stages, producing seven unequal, stout branches, which quickly ascend and are 

 separated only by narrow spaces. They lie nearly in a plane. 



The branches are all stout, terete, much thicker than the main stem, straight 

 or curved, slightly enlarged at the bluntly rounded tips, and closely covered 

 on all sides with large, prominent, verruciform calicles, which mostly have 

 narrow elliptical or crescent-shaped and more or less bilabiate apertures. They 

 are occasionally wide open and roundish; in that case the calicles are nearly 

 cylindric. 



The tentacles are entirely retracted. 



Total height of type, 140 mm. ; breadth, 95 mm. ; length of longest branchlet, 

 93 mm. ; diameter of branchlets, in middle, 12 to 14 mm. ; of stem, 9 mm. ; diameter 

 of calicles, 2.5 to 3 mm. ; height the same. 



Color, in alcohol, light yellowish brown ; when dry yellowish gray. 



The ccenenchyma is very thick, fine grained, compact; its surface is covered 

 with minute, short spicules, looking like dust under a lens. 



In tangential sections the polyp-chambers are round, close together, abou 

 1 .5 mm. in diameter. The tubules of the ccenenchyma are small and very numer- 

 ous, separated by thin interstices filled with small, mostly granule-like spicules. 

 Their external openings are minute, in small pits of the surface. 



