NO. 1624. DESCRIPTIONS OF HA WAIIAN ALCYONARIA—NVTTING. 589 



origins two-fifths, right-handed." The distance between branch 

 origins is about 3 mm., and the slightly ascending branches subdivide 

 about four times. Normal polyps ordinarily one to each node, but 

 tAvo to a node on distal parts ; small, rather slender, 1^ to 2 mm. high. 

 Besides these there are a number of large abnormal polyps infested 

 with parasitic Crustacea. These polyps are in some cases as much as 

 12 mm. high by 2 mm. in diameter. 



Spicules, usually bar-like, arranged longitudinally on body walls 

 and in tentacles. Not seldom irregular, branched forms are seen. The 

 spicules in the modified polyps are larger than elsewhere, and tend to 

 be more irregular. Here also they are arranged longitudinally in the 

 body walls. 



Color of main stem light drab, main branches light yellow, polyps 

 almost white. It is probable that the branches and polyps are bright 

 yellow in life. 



The stem has a dull greenish iridescence, where denuded, and this 

 becomes lighter green where the axis of the branches is seen. 



Type.— Csit No. 25354, U.S.N.M., Albatross Station 8973, near 

 French Frigate Shoal, 395-397 fathoms. 



Additional locality. — Between Hawaii and Maui : Station 4065, 

 491-500 fathoms. 



CHRYSOGORGIA DELICATA, new species. 

 Plate XLV, fig. 7. 



Colony, incomplete, about 50 mm. in height, with exceedingly deli- 

 cate stem and branches, the latter with but one or two bifurcations. 

 Spiral left-handed, one-third to a whorl; distance between branch 

 origins 4 mm. 



Polyps about 2J mm. high, quite distant from each other, a single 

 one to a node, except where there are two on a distal node, much de- 

 composed and hard to study in the specimens secured. 



Spicules squamiform, but so varied in form and size as to be almost 

 beyond description. They are rather large, with many lobular proc- 

 esses from their edges, and are imbricating and interlocked in an 

 exceedingly complex manner. The;f often have forked, lobular ends, 

 resembling those of C. axillaris. Their general trend seems to be 

 longitudinal in polyp walls, although there is a tendency to become 

 transverse on the polyp bases. Tentacular spicules curved, placed 

 transversely. 



f^ These terms are used by Versluys. " Branch origins two-fifths " means that 

 starting with a given branch origin, and following the origins of successive 

 branches upward, the sixth branch origin will be directly above the first, and 

 that the spiral traced through the branch origins will have passed meanwhile 

 twice around the stem. " Right-handed " means that the spiral passes upward 

 in an opposite direction to that taken by the hands of a watch. 



