692 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
forms belonging to the families Muricidse and Gorgonidse were taken, and numerous species 
belonging to the genera Accinella, Ceratoisis, Sclerisis, and Lepidisis of the family Isidse. 
“ But few species of the suborders Briareacea and Melithseacea were collected. 
“ Coralleacea — No living species of the genus Corallium was discovered, but some 
worn specimens were found at Banda and the Ki Islands, 1 which Mr. S. 0. Ridley 
describes as follows : — 
“ ‘ One specimen was a large well-branched example, 9 inches high by 5 inches in 
greatest diameter above, greatest diameter at base 22 mm. The branching is essentially 
in one plane, while its fundamental plan appears to be dichotomous, it is not strictly 
adhered to, and the larger branches are more or less regularly pinnate, with marginal twigs 
of small size. The stem and larger branches have their antero-posterior diameter decidedly 
larger than the lateral diameter. The longitudinal striae of the hard axis are delicate and 
numerous, viz. , about 4 to 1 mm. on an average in the larger axes. A transverse section 
of one of the small pinnae exhibited the structure characteristic of the axes of members 
of this family. The section, like the exterior of the corallum itself as seen with the 
naked eye, is devoid of positive colour ; with the exception of a few pale red points in 
the centre of the section which are evidently embedded spicules, and appear to have the 
stellate form characteristic of the family, no free spicules could be found. The specimen, 
which had evidently been dead for some time, as the longitudinal striae are obliterated 
in places, and besides being encrusted with Polyzoa, a delicate Sponge, &c., is much ex- 
cavated, apparently by Worms and boring Sponges, was obtained on the 26th September 
1874, in 129 fathoms, off the Ki Islands. The second specimen, which measures only 
2^ inches in height and diameter, the greatest diameter of the stem being 10 mm., agrees 
so closely in all its external characters with the first, that it is unnecessary to describe 
it further, except by saying that all the clean broken surfaces of the branches exhibit a 
pure white colour, whereas the first specimen shows a faint pink coloration on the broken 
surfaces of five small branches. It was obtained off Banda, in 200 fathoms. With 
regard to the genus and species to which these specimens should be referred, it must be 
stated that, in the absence of the cortex, a final decision is impossible. In the general 
external characters (with the exception of the colour) they resemble very closely the 
only known species to which on distributional grounds it is likely that they would 
belong, viz., Corallium (Pleurocorallium) secundum, Dana, which is known to inhabit 
Japanese seas. This species (as shown by the series of specimens exhibited in the 
Japanese Court at the International Fisheries Exhibition, 1883) varies very greatly 
in its external coloration, being apparently in some cases wholly white externally, 
like the present specimens ; if therefore it is remembered that their maceration in sea 
w T ater would probably destroy or alter a bright red surface colour, and that in parts the 
corallum still retains a red tint, the improbability, founded on colour, of the identifica- 
1 Another specimen of Corallium has recently been found by Prof. Moseley in the dredgings off Prince Edward Island. 
