NO. 1923. DESCRIPTIONS OF PACIFIC ALCYONARIA— NUTTING. 89 



Spicules: These are all small ovate or terete forms; densel}^ tuber- 

 culate clubs, double clubs and sometimes double wheels or collar- 

 button forms, reminding one of the genus Bebryce, are also found. 



Color: The colony is grayish-brown. 



Locality.— St&tion 4894; Ose Saki Light, N. 41° E., 5 miles; 95 

 fathoms. 



Type-locality. — Kobe, Japan, 8 and 50 fathoms. 



The primary water-vascular canals are not easily made out, and 

 this species is hard to differentiate from some Muriceidse, such as 

 Bebryce. 



Family ISIDiE Gray (modified by Wright and Studer). 



Axis composed of alternating calcareous and homy joints, both of 

 which are amorphous. 



Genus ACANELLA Gray (amended by Verrill). 



Branches arising from the short horny internodes of the axis. No 

 external layer of scale-like spicules. 



ACANELLA NORMAN! Verrill. 

 Acanella normani Verrill, Amer. Joum. Sci. and Arts, vol. 16, 1878, p. 212. 



Colony erect, tree-Uke, 16 cm. high. The root bears heavy branch- 

 ing calcareous processes. The stem with lower nodes shorter and 

 the upper longer, dividing into three main branches about 3 cm. 

 from its base. Each of these gives off usually two, sometimes three 

 branchlets in verticils from its horny nodes. Branchings to the 

 fourth order are attained. The coenenchyma is thin. The polyps 

 are uniserial and distant on proximal parts of the branches, none on 

 the stem and larger branches, often about 4 mm. apart, sometimes 

 opposite, more closely crowded on distal parts where the terminal 

 ones are often in pairs and larger than the others, sometimes attaming 

 a height of 4.5 mm. 



The calyces are variable in shape, sometimes cylindrical, sometimes 

 almost obconical as if on pedicels. Their walls are armed with long 

 sharp spindles, which often project far beyond the margin m eight 

 points. Some of these spicules on the outer side of calyx are very 

 large and strong, running the entire length of the calyx and attauiing 

 a length of 3.5 mm. They are often curved and pass obhquely partly 

 around the calyx walls. Their surfaces are covered with minute 

 spinules, as described by Verrill. 



Color: The colony is ivory-white with a brownish cast. Polyps 

 golden-brown. 



Locality.— StSition 4956; Mizunoko Shima Light, N. 22° W., 33 

 miles; 720 fathoms. 



