ALCYONARIA — J. A. THOMSON AND DORIS L. MACKINNON. 675 



"These bear numerous high, projecting warts, which tend to be 

 more numerous towards one side of the spicule than the other, 



■ especially if the spicule is curved, when the convex side is always 

 much the stronger toothed ; length by breadth in mm. "187 x •051 ; 

 •15 X •OG ; •12 X -05. There are also scales with very irregular 

 margins and numerous spiny warts. — "102 x •082 mm. ; •OGS x 

 ■04 mm. ; ^02 x 02 mm. Thirdly, there are small irregular 

 bodies.— -025 x -025 ; -051 x 026. 



The colour of the specimens is orange-brown ; the polyps 

 - yellowish-white. 



Locality. — Eleven miles east of Broken Bay. 



Previously recorded from Australia (North-west Coast), 50 

 fathoms; Station 162, off East Moncoeur Island, Bass Strait, 38 

 iathoms. 



MOPSEA AUSTRALIS, sp. nov. 



(Plate Ixiv. 6gs. 1 and 2., pi. Ixvii. fig. 5.) 



One specimen has the basal portion almost intact, the others 



are broken, branching pieces of various lengths. All are in the 



dried condition. The mode of branching, and, in fact, the whole 



. general appearance of the colony is very similar to Mopsea 



dichotoma (Linne). 



The polyps are arranged in close spirals round the branches. 

 They are small (•5--75 mm. in length), club-shaped, and, in the 

 <iry state at any rate, are very closely pressed to the surface of 

 the branch, so that their mouths are hidden. Their armature 



■ consists of indistinct longitudinal rows of transversely arranged, 

 slightly overlapping spicules ; there are from fifteen to eighteen 

 of these in the abaxial rows. 



The spicules of this species are smaller than those of M. dicho- 

 toma, and much less spiny. The following types occur — (1) 

 rather broad, flattened, almost scale-like spicules with relatively 

 prominent teeth round their edges, and with a few warts over the 

 surface. These spicules vary in shape from flattened spindles to 

 rough oc-shapes and ovals. The following measurements were 

 taken of length and breadth in millimetres. — ^187 x "034; -153 

 x 068 ; "119 X -051 ; ^102 x -068. (2) Stout spindles and some 

 clubs with prominent warts. — •ISS x •034 mm. ; •IIQ x '017 mm. ; 

 •102 X ^017 mm. (3) Capstans and small, irregular bodies. — 

 •051 X 034 mm. ; ^034 x -034 mm. ; -068 x •QH mm. ; ^034 x 

 -017 mm. 



The colour of the dried specimens is deep cream. 



It must be admitted that Mopsea dichotoma (Linne), M. 



■ elongata, Roule, and the species at present under discussion, are 



Q Q 



