BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
278 
DESCRIPTIONS OF PORTO RICAN ALCYONARIA. 
Telesto riisei (Verrill.) Fig. A. 
( Clavularia riisei Duch. & Mich.) 
Several specimens of this species are among the collection, all preserved in alcohol. The general 
form of the colony is that of an erect, sparingly branched, white tubular stem, having the polyps 
arranged in irregular, somewhat alternating series, strongly projecting from the axial surface, and 
at distances from each other of from 3 to 6 mm. The color of the stem is white, that of the 
Fig. A. — (1) Colony of Telesto riisei, nine-sixteenths natural size, 
(2-6) Spicules of same, magnified. 
calicles a sort of dirty brown. The stems are further marked by a series of eight longitudinal ridges, 
not easily distinguished except by rather careful inspection with a lens! A similar character is 
distinguishable upon the calyces. 
From stations 6072 and 6074, at depths of and 6-J fathoms. Bottom shelly and with coral 
sand. Fig. A shows the general aspects of the colony, the creeping base, form of budding, etc., spicules 
closely interlaced, forming a definite tubular skeleton, which remains intact even after digestion in hot 
caustic potash. 
