585 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



TELESTO AMBIGUA Nutting, new species. 

 Plate LXXXIV, figs. 1 and 2; Plate XC, fig. 1. . 



Colony growing from an expanded, more or less membranous base, 

 and forming a tangled mass in which it is difficult to distinguish indi- 

 vidual stems; longest stem attaining a height of 19 mm. The stem, 

 or hodj of the mother polyp, gives off daughter calyces without any 

 regularity whatever. In one case an individual attains a height of 

 about 14 mm. Calycular wall with 8 longitudinal corrugations armed 

 with spicules placed lengthwise, and ending at the margins in 8 

 rounded points. The corrugations are lighter in color than the inter- 

 vening spaces, and somewhat broader, giving a decidedly striated 

 appearance to the calycular walls. 



The calyces enlarge slightly and gradually toward the margins; 

 and are often curved, when long. In some cases there a^e calyces 

 of the third generation. 



The polyps are all so retracted that details of their structure can 

 not be ascertained without sectioning. 



The spicules are very slender spindles, almost needle like, with 

 their outer surfaces rather closely beset with thorn-like processes. 

 They are most numerous in the longitudinal rugosities on the calycular 

 walls. 



Color. — Pale yellowish brown, growing lighter distally; the inter- 

 vals between the rugosities are greenish. 



Type-specimen.— C&t. No. 25421, U.S.N.M. 



Locality. — Station 4514, Monterey Bay, Point Pinos light-house 

 bearing S. 39° E., 10.7 miles distant; 524 fathoms. 



Genus S.YMPODIUM. 



Polyps arising from a thin, leathery membrane, retractile. Spic- 

 ules small and disk-shaped. 



SYMPODIUM ARMATUM "Wright and Studer. 



Sympodium armatum Wright and Studer, Challenger Report, Alcyonaria, 



1889, p. 272. 



Specimens which agree well with the original description were 

 found at the following stations : 



Station 4311, Point Loma light-house bearing N. 32° E., 8.5 miles 

 distant; 110 fathoms. 



Station 4515, Monterey Bay, Point Pinos light-house bearing S. 

 18° E., 8.1 miles distant; 495 fathoms. 



Challenger Station 56, latitude 30° 08' 45" N., longitude 64° 59' 35" 

 W.; 1,975 fathoms. 



