NO. 1923. DESCRIPTIONS OF PACIFIC ALCYONARIA— NUTTING. 87 



and 1.8 mm. The calyx walls are studded with sharp, conspicuous 

 points projecting upward, particularly evident around the margin, 

 where they form a crown of numerous points. Similar projections 

 give a bristhng appearance to the entire coenenchyma. The polyj^s 

 are completely retractile and are all sunken so that the operculum is 

 considerably below the margin. The operculum is composed of 

 dehcate spindles, two of which are nearly parallel along the dorsum of 

 each tentacle. 



Spicules: These are exceedingly varied in form. The most con- 

 spicuous is a quadriradiate form consisting of a triradiate base from 

 which a much larger, straight, comparatively smooth point arises. 

 This is the form that furnishes the bristling points mentioned above. 

 There are also triradiate and multiradiate forms, symmetrical and 

 unsymmetrical, a few five-pointed stars and ordinary spindles. 



Color: The colony is rather dark grayish-brown; the spicules 

 colorless. 



Locality. — Station 5071; Ose Saki Light, S. 53.5° W., 2.6 miles; 57 

 fathoms. 



General distribution. — The type-locality is "india" (Gray). 



The U. S. Fisheries steamer Albatross specimen agrees well with the 

 description given by Wright and Studer. The stem is very flexible, 

 so that it can be tightly coiled without breaking, even after several 

 years immersion in alcohol. 



Genus BEBRYCE Philippi (raodified by Kolliker). 



Coenenchyma very thin, the outer layer filled with peculiar spicules 

 which are shaped like a collar button and have usually frilled or scal- 

 loped margins. They usually have a darker center and hghter mar- 

 ginal area when in situ. 



BEBRYCE HICKSONI Thomson and Henderson. 



Bebryce hicksoni Thomson and Henderson, Ceylon Pearl Oyster Reports; Sup- 

 plementary Reports, No. XX, 1905, p. 294. 



Colony flabellate, rudely pinnate, 10.2 cm. high and with a spread of 

 about 9.4 cm. The main stem is straight and, hke the main branches, 

 is distinctly flattened, being 1.5 mm. by 2 mm. in section. The branches 

 are all lateral and in the same plane. One branch is compound and 

 the others are simple on one side of the colony, and there are two 

 compound branches and two short stubs on the other side. Branch- 

 ings of the fourth order are produced, but there are no anastomoses and 

 no terminal calyces. The calyces are almost all lateral in position, 

 except near the distal ends of twigs, where they are on all sides. 

 Generally they are either alternate or opposite in arrangement. 



The individual calyces are conical or dome-shaped; a typical one 

 measures 1.2 mm. in height and 2 mm. in diameter. Their walls are 



