NO. 1658. ALCYONARIA OF THE CALIFORNIAN COAST— NUTTING. 79? 



The calyces are as described by Verrill, irregularly distributed on 

 the rachis, the rows or ranks being scarcely differentiated. The 

 calyces are usually more expanded at the top than is indicated by 

 Verrill's figure, but some of them have the same outline. The amount 

 of expansion seems to depend on the stage of retraction of the polyp. 



The zooids are relatively the most prominent that I have seen. 

 They extend down on the dorsal side of the stem some distance 

 below the rachis and within about 75 mm. of the end. 



The spicules are long slender needles, forming 8 longitudinal ribs 

 on the calycular walls and projecting decidedl}^ from the marginal 

 teeth. They are also thickly distributed lengthwise on the rachis, 

 although they are sparse or wanting on the stem, where the spicules, 

 when present, are more rod-like. 



Color. — The polyps are dark brown, the stem and rachis being 

 lighter. 



Distrihution.—Stsitioii 4400, 30° 50' 20" N., 118° 03' 30" W., 500 

 fathoms; Station 4407, SE. point Santa Catahna Island N. 19° 30' 

 E., 3.2 miles, 334-478 fathoms; Station 4415, NE. point Santa Cata- 

 lina Island N. 89° W. 8.6 miles, 638 fathoms. 



Also U. S. Fish Commission Stations 880 and 881, 262-325 

 fathoms; off Sable Island, Nova Scotia, 300-400 fathoms; Blake 

 stations, off Santa Cruz, 135-500 fathoms; off Guadeloupe, 163 and 

 769 fathoms. 



Genus HALIPTERIS. 

 Calyces with 2 to 4 teeth; zooids lateral. 



HALIPTERIS CONTORTA, new species. 



Plate LXXXVI, figs. 3 and 4. 



Colony much distorted, about 75 mm. long; stem 12.5 mm., round. 

 Bulb not distinct. 



Polyps arranged in rows of 5 or 6, passing obliquely from ventral 

 to dorsal surface on both sides, forming crescentic rows. The calyces 

 decrease in size from lateral to dorsal, the mid-dorsal being the 

 smallest and measuring but 1.5 mm. in height. The rows are closely 

 crowded together, leaving no lateral or dorsal surface of rachis free, 

 except where the calyces are disturbed. 



Calyces with margins armed with 4 rather blunt teeth, 2 of which 

 are much larger and more pointed than the others. The smaller 

 teeth are often so inconspicuous that ihej might well be over- 

 looked and the calyces be described as having but 2 teeth. On 

 the lower part of the rachis there is a short row of rudimentary 

 polyps or calyces on the dorsal side of the stem. 



