284 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
from 3 to 4 mm. Color in alcohol, pale brown or yellowish. Ccenenchyma moderately thick, rather 
suberous in texture. Axis horny, dark brown in color, lighter in terminal portion. Spicules of two 
rather distinct kinds: (1) Large, white tuberculate spindles, 1 to 2.15 mm. in length; (2) small, spinose, 
and tuberculate spindles, of violet color, from 0.09 to 0.20 mm. in length. 
Fig. G shows the general characteristics of the colony. 
Taken with tangle, at station 6090; coral bottom, depth of 16 fathoms. 
Fig. G-.— Colony of Eunicea laxispina, T 9 E natural size. Figs. 2-5 
White spindles of outer layer. Fig. 2, Spindles 2.14x0.209 
mm. Fig. 3, 1.35 x 0.145 mm. Fig. 4, 0.654 x 0.10 mm. Fig. 
5, Club, 0.20 x 0.04 mm. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, Violet spicules of 
inner layer, 0.009 to 0.02 mm. long. 
Plexaura flexuosa Lamouroux. Plate iv. 
( Eunicea Jurcata Ehr. , 1834 ; Gorgonia anguiculus Dana, 1846; Plexaura rhipidalisV al. , 1855; P. .s alicornoides Milne-Edw. , 1857. ) 
Two specimens of this species in the collection are quite typical, both as to size and form, and also 
as to the variation so characteristic of the species. From examination of a considerable collection in 
the National Museum, I am able to verify Verrill’s note on this point (cf. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zook, 
vol. i, p. 35) : “This species varies greatly in form, color,” etc. 
Colony shrubby or arborescent, branchingand sub-branching rather freely, and with a tendency to 
occupy a common plane. Height 250 to 300 mm. Stems cylindrical, from 5 to 8 mm. in diameter. Axis 
horny, black, very hard, cylindrical. Ccenenchyma rather thick and densely packed with spindle- 
shaped spicules of some three types: (1) Large, white, tubercular; (2) small, purplish, spinose forms 
surrounding the axis; (3) very minute, somewhat clavate, spicules close beneath the ectoderm. 
Color of dry specimens vary from dull chocolate brown to purplish. 
Figs. 13 to 16, plate iv, give a good general idea of the form of the colony, as well as of typical 
spicules. 
