NO. 1923. DESCRIPTIONS OF PACIFIC ALCYONARIA— NUTTING. 31 



are often bent backward, outward and inward so that their distal ends 

 almost meet. This is not constant, however, some of the leaves tak- 

 ing an opposite direction, their ends almost meeting on the ventral 

 side of the rachis. 



The fully developed leaves are about 3 cm. long, measured around 

 the polypiferous border, and 1.7 cm. directly across from base to tip. 

 Their greatest diameter is 9 mm. 



The calyces are curiously distributed, there being a group of 4 or 

 5 on the proximal end of the pinnule, the others being placed in a 

 zigzag row (sometimes double) along the border, there being 28 or 

 30 in a full grown leaf. The individual calyces are somewhat hour- 

 glass-shaped, expanding at top and bottom, about 3 mm. high to 

 base of points, ,and having a marginal diameter of 2 mm. There is 

 a crown of points, the typical number being 8, around the margin. 

 These points are often very unequal in size, and each is composed of 

 a bundle of needle-Hke yellow spicules with their distal ends approxi- 

 mated. These points occasionally extend 2.5 mm. beyond the mar- 

 gin. Similar spicules are vertically disposed in the calyx walls, 

 tending to form 8 longitudinal bands. A few small red spindles are 

 on the basal parts of the calyx walls. 



The spicules 'of the leaves are smaller and red, criss-crossed and 

 mingled with the yellow ones near the polypiferous zone. The polyps 

 are white, with a few red, curved spicules lying lengthwise on the 

 dorsal surfaces of the tentacles. 



The zooids are very numerous and conspicuous, forming yellow 

 bands along the ventro-lateral surfaces, the bands broadening into 

 triangular patches between the bases of the leaves and extending 

 in a hne of smaller zooids along between the leaf bases. The zooids 

 in the ventro-lateral bands are the larger, and are surrounded by 

 clumps of yellow spindles. 



The spicules are red and yellow, needle-Uke, smooth spindles, 

 giving their color to the colony, and attaining about 2 mm. in length. 



Color: The leaves, distal portion of the stem, and those parts of the 

 rachis not occupied by zooids are rather dull scarlet. The polyps 

 and zooid zones are bright yellow. The lower part of the stem is 

 yellowish. 



Localities. — Station 4960; Misimoko Shima Light, N. 19° W., 

 30.5 miles; 578 fathoms. Station 4973; Shio Msaki Light, N. 82° E., 

 12.5 miles; 600 fathoms. 



Type-locality. — South of Yeddo, Japan; 345 fathoms. 



This is one of the most brilhant of all kno^vn pennatuhds, and must 

 be a gorgeous object when symmetrically expanded. 



