REPORT ON T THE GORGONACEAN CORALS. 155 



It differs from V. fiabellata Whitelegge (9) in the colour and form 

 of the spicules. 



It differs from V. nigrescens Duchassaing & Michelotti (1) in the 

 form and size of the verrucae and in the colour of the colony. 



Muricella flexilis, ii. sp. (Plate XIV. Figs. 1, 2.) 



There is one small specimen of this form. It is 130 mm. in height 

 and 70 mm. across the widest part. The main stem is To mm. in 

 diameter near the base. 



Branching takes place in one plane, the branching arising from two 

 sides of the stem. Lateral branches are borne in the same plane. The 

 branches are slightly flattened in the plane of branching ; they all end 

 in a small flat expansion with two lateral polyps borue close to the apex, 

 making it somewhat hammer-shaped. 



The calyces are - 9 mm. by '8 mm. in diameter at the base. The 

 polyps are only partially retracted, the heads, measuring - 6 mm. x "5 

 mm. in diameter, being visible above the verrucae. 



The spicules are spindle-shaped, with warts not very thickly placed. 

 They are 1*105 mm. x 09 mm., *83 mm. x "073 mm., *18 mm. x -027 

 mm. 



The colour in spirit is dirty white, the brown axis showing through 

 the thin white ccenenchyma. 



Hab. Outer slope of the reef of Funafuti. Depth 40-7 1 fathoms. 



This specimen differs from M. tenera Ridley (5) in the greater 

 slenderness of stem and branches, the smaller size of the spicules, and 

 the fact that they are much less waited. 



It differs from M. umbraticoides Studer ' in the absence of the 

 "halbseitig warzig" character of the spicules. 



It differs from M. complanata Wright <& Studer (7) in its much more 

 slender appearance, the thinness of the coenenchyma, and the com- 

 paratively smooth character of the spindles, and also in colour, being- 

 white, not rose colour. 



It differs from M. perramosa Ridley (5) in colour and in the absence 

 of a divergent bend of the stem at the origin of the branches. 



It differs from M. nitida Verrill (4) in colour, in the size of the 

 spicules, and the lateral position of the polyps. 



It differs from M. gracilisWright &, Studer (7) in the lateral arrange- 



1 Studer, Th , Monatsber. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1878. 



