156 ISA L. HILES, B.SC. 



merit of the polyps at the ends of the branches, in the much less warted 

 spindles, and in the colour of the coenenchyma, which is not red but 

 white. 



It differs from M. crassa Wright & Studer (7) in the thinness of the 

 coenenchyma, the lateral arrangement of the polyps, the slender 

 character of the stem and branches, and in the much smoother 

 character of the spicules. 



Muricella tenera Ridley, (Plate XIV. figs. 3, 4.) 



There is one colony ; it is 115 mm. high by 55 mm. across the widest 

 part. The main stem is 2 mm. in diameter at the base. It is ramified 

 in one plane, giving off branches on two sides at angles of about 45 9 ; 

 these again bear branches at angles of 45 Q -60°. 



The calyces are small and inconspicuous, - 5 mm. high and 1 mm. in 

 diameter at the base. They are borne on the two sides of the stem and 

 branches about 2 mm. apart. 



The branches end in two laterally placed polyps, making the termina- 

 tion triangular in shape. 



The coenenchyma is thin and whitish in colour ; the brown axis 

 shows through, making the whole appear fawn-colour. The polyps are 

 brown. 



The spicules are long, wavy spindles, covered with warts, which are 

 more prominent on one side than the other. They are 4*34 mm. x 

 •29 mm., 2*34 mm. x -22 mm., - 29 mm. x "036 mm. 



Hab. Outer slope of the reef. Depth 40-71 fathoms. This specimen 

 differs slightly from Muricella tenera as described by Ridley (5), but the 

 differences are not very important. The calyces are smaller, and the 

 spicules are from two to four times the size of those of Ridley's form. 



The spicules of the calyx also are not arranged in such a regular row 

 as Ridley figures; Wright and Studer (7. p. 124) say the same about 

 these spicules in the forms examined by them. 



Otherwise the colony decidedly approaches M. tenera : I have seen 

 the 'Challenger' specimen, and consider this to be the same form. 



Previously recorded from south of Papua, off the Ki Islands, depth 

 140 fathoms; and Port Molle, Queensland. 



