154 ISA L. HILES, B.SO. 



The basal attachment is present in both as a small, flat, calcareous 

 expansion. 



One colony gives off a broken branch at an angle of 90°, 10 mm. 

 above the base ; the main stem reaches a height of 40 mm., and 

 13 mm. from the apex gives off another branch at the same side, 

 8 mm long. 



The other colony is 34 mm. high and gives off three branches fairly 

 perpendicularly. These are all on the same side ; the lowest arises 

 1 1 mm. from the base and is broken off short ; the second is 9 mm. 

 long, and arises 3 mm above the first ; the third is 4*5 mm. above the 

 second, and is 13 mm. long. 



There are very few polyps, most of the ccenenchyma having been 

 rubbed off ; but what remains of the ccenenchyma is thin. 7 he polyps 

 arise almost perpendicularly, and mostly on the two sides. The end 

 of a branch bears two polyps, only slightly in advance of the other, 

 but neither truly terminal. The polyps are "92 mm. in height by 1*3 

 mm. in breadth at the base. 



The spicules of the ccenenchyma are chiefly four-rayed stars and 

 flattened curved spindles, giving off spines from the convex side. They 

 are T2 mm. long by '2 mm. broad. 



The polyps are covered with broad flat spicules, somewhat triangular 

 in shape, with branched lateral outgrowths. They are *22 mm. x -49 

 mm. (length by breadth). 



The operculum is eight-rayed ; each ray consists of two broadish 

 spicules, converging at the apex. Their bases rest on a horizontally 

 placed spicule, curved in shape and somewhat spiny. The opercular 

 spicules are - 31 mm. x "07 mm. 



The axis is horny, flexible, with the centre divided into chambers. 



The colour of the colony in spirit is reddish brown. The spicules 

 of the ccenenchyma and polyps are bright red, those of the operculum 

 white. 



Hub. Outer slope of Ellice Island. Depth 40-71 fathoms. 



This form differs from V. intricata Gray in the size o'f the polyps and 

 of the spicules, the arrangement of the polyps, and the colour of the 

 spicules 



It differs from V. mauritiensis Ridley (5) in the size of the polyps 

 the shape of the spicules of the verruca?, and the colour of the colony. 



