NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
705 
alabastrum (fig. 283), dredged off the Azores from 1000 fathoms. It measures when adult 
65 mm. in breadth and 50 mm. in height. The coral skeleton is of a beautiful light 
pink colour, and is very thin and fragile. Two of the adult specimens obtained were 
alive when brought up, and expanded themselves in sea water, notwithstanding the 
depth from which they came. They have ninety-six tentacles disposed in cycles with 
Pig. 283. — Flabellwn alabastrum, Moseley ; slightly enlarged. Off the Azores, 1000 fathoms. 
perfect regularity. The colouring is remarkably bright for deep-sea animals : the 
tentacles are light red, and between their bases are stripes of yellowish red and pale 
greyish, the inner margin of the disk is of a dark madder colour, and the remainder of the 
disk pale pink. The madder colouring matter is a peculiar substance, “ polyperythrin,” 
which yields three distinct absorption bands in the spectrum, and which is widely 
distributed amongst Ccelenterates, being found in many deep-sea Actinias and also in 
surface-swimming Scyphomedusse. It is this colouring matter which gives the madder 
tint to the skeletons of all the Flabellums. 
“ Flabellwn angulare (fig. 284) is a remarkable form nearly approaching Desmo- 
phyllum. It was dredged off Nova Scotia in 1250 fathoms. The specimen figured is 
obviously abnormal in its arrangement in fives. A specimen with the normal six 
