NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
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polyps, and apparently trailed along the ground. As the basal portion of the main axis 
or stolon is imperfect, it must remain a matter for conjecture whether, as seems probable, 
it was attached or remained free and was only anchored in the mud. In either case it 
seems likely that by the contraction of the polyps, an irregular vermiform movement may 
have been given to the colony. To this strange form the name Callozostron mirabile 
has been given. Fig. 235 shows two of the polyps, enlarged. 
“ Next in interest come a number of deep-sea forms, which will necessitate the 
emendation of Verniks recently established family Chrysogorgidae. The species 
are noted for the elegance of their form, which varies from that of an elongated 
unbranched axis not thicker than a horse hair to a spirally branched axis forming quite 
Fig. 236 . — Bathygorgia profunda, u. gen. et sp. 
a shrub-like mass. The axes when denuded are of a most brilliant metallic hue, and 
markedly iridescent. All the hitherto recorded species have been taken in deep water 
off the Atlantic shores of the West Indies or North America. Among the new forms in 
the Challenger collection may be mentioned Strophogorgici challenged, n. gen. and sp., 
600 fathoms (off Cape St. Vincent), and Strophogorgia verrilli, n. sp., from Station 235 
(Japan), at a depth of 565 fathoms. Other species have been taken at Station 70 
(Azores), depth 1675 fathoms, and Station 237 (Japan), depth 1875 fathoms. A form 
( Bathygorgia prof unda) in which the axis was too feeble to hold the polyps in an erect 
position is shown in fig. 236 ; it was dredged at Station 241, from a depth of 2300 fathoms. 
The spicules are very massive, and are club-shaped. A number of new and interesting 
