ALCYONARIA— J. A. THOMSON AND DORIS L. MACKINNON. 671 



form the lower stratum, over the surface of which the yellow 

 clubs are disposed in a thin layer, which may cover the entire 

 colony, or may be confined to a broad circle round each polyp- 

 opening. 



Locality. — Eleven miles east of Broken Bay, 30-40 fms. 



Previously recorded from Port Curtis, Queensland, 5-11 fms., 

 Poit Molle, 14 fms., Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-6 fms.; 

 Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia (Studer). 



MOPSELLA TEXTIFORMIS, Lamarch. 



(Plate Ixiii., figs. 4 and 5.) 



Mopsella textiformis, Ridley, Report Zool. Coll. - H.M.S. 

 "Alert," 1884, pp. 358-360. 



The strong basal portion of what must have been a large 

 colony. It is about 23 cm. in height, and the diameter near the 

 base is as much as 3 cm. The length of the inter-nodes varies 

 from 4 to 9 mm., and of the nodes 4-6 mm. The colour of the 

 axis is rose. At the base where it is weathered and the longi- 

 tudinal canals are exposed, the axis has a very remarkable 

 labyrinthine pattern. The main stem gives off several strong 

 branches in one plane, and these seem to have given off numerous 

 secondary branches strikingly slender in contrast. There has been 

 abundant anastomosis. Most of the ccenenchyma has been worn 

 off, but here and there patches remain of a bright yellow colour. 

 In regai'd to spicules the specimen agrees well with Ridley's 

 description, but very few of the characteristic dentate "Blatt- 

 keulen " have long shafts. In these spicules the shafts are usually 

 orange and the heads lemon- yellow. The nodes contain the usual 

 smooth rods. 



Locality. — Lord Howe Island. 



Previously recorded from many Australasian Stations. 



Genus PSILACABARIA, Ridley. 

 PSILACABARIA GRACILLIMA, Ridley. 



Psilacabaria gracillima, Ridley, Rep. Zool. Coll. H.M.S. "Alert," 

 1884, pp. 364-365, pi. xxxvii., figs, d-d'^, pi. xxxviii., figs. f-f". 



Stations 34, 36, 48 



A number of broken pieces seem referable to Psilacabaria 

 gracillima, Ridley. The chief characteristics of this species may 



