852 THOMSON AND RITCHIE ON THE ALCYONARIANS 
throughout its course, and gives off many branches which are also naked. The 
branches arise at various acute angles, and some of them, especially towards the 
lower end, are almost as thick (1°5 mm.) as the main stem (1°75 mm. at the lowest 
part). Like the latter, they give origin to smaller branches, which may bear minute 
twigs with a single jomt or with two joints. Small branches with only a few joints 
are much more frequent on the stem than the large branches already mentioned, 
and they stand off from the stem at greater angles than the large branches—some, 
indeed, arising perpendicularly. 
All the branches spring from the calcareous internodes, and are equally developed 
on all sides. They vary in number from 3 to 7, or even 8, per joint, 7 perhaps being 
the most common number. They seem to arise quite irregularly, a frequent interval 
between two on the same side being 4 mm.; but very occasionally 3 or 4 arise in 
a whorl. 
The axis consists of alternate horny nodes and calcareous internodes, the latter 
being covered with very fine longitudinal grooves. The internodes are much longer 
than the nodes, and are themselves longer towards the apex of the colony. The 
following measurements of successive internodes were taken :—(a) from the lowest 
joint upwards, 5, 6°5, 7, 9 mm.; (>) from the topmost jomt downwards, 9, 9°5, 10, 9, 
10 mm. Near the base the horny nodes are only about 0°5 mm. in length, and 
gradually decrease towards the apex. The branches never begin with a horny node; 
in every case a process arises from the originative calcareous node, and on this the 
first horny node of the branch is based. 
This species most closely approaches P. antarctica ; but the branches arise from all 
surfaces of the stem and secondary branches, and are equally developed on all sides, 
whereas in P. antarctica the branches arise from only four sides and are unequally 
developed. Moreover, in the new species the calcareous internodes are much longer 
than in P. antarctica, and may bear 7 or 8 branches, whereas in P. antarctica there 
are only about 4 per joint. 
The specimen bears several siliceous sponges, several Polyzoa, a small brown 
Actinian, and several worm-tubes. 
Locality.—Station 411, lat. 74° 1’ 8., long. 22° W.; 161 fathoms. Surface tempera- 
ture 28°9°, March 12, 1904. 
Family PRIMNOID AL. 
Sub-family PRimnoin a. 
Thouarella brucei, n. sp., Pl. I fig. 1; Pl. EH. fig. 1. 
Several specimens of strong upright branched colonies of a creamy-white colour 
were found at various stations. The largest specimen is a bushy colony 14 cm. in 
height by 10°5 cm. in maximum breadth, with an axis 5 mm. in breadth at the base; 
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