200 
shape, being squarish oblong with rounded 
corners, rudely triangular, or irregular polygons 
of various sorts. The ones on the basal part of 
the calyx are usually larger than those on the 
distal part. The polyps are retractile, but it is 
doubtful if the calyx walls can completely cover 
the operculum. The latter is composed of rela- 
tively heavy spindles or bar-like forms. Two 
of these are often closely fitted together and 
curved over a tentacle to form a solid opercular 
segment or flap. 
"Spicules. Some of the largest spicules of the 
Gorgonacea are found in this species. Those 
covering the coenenchyma are closely and exactly 
fitted together along all their contiguous edges. 
They are squarish or oblong plates of various 
forms, and attain a length of 5 mm. and a 
diameter of 2 mm. Typical spindles are rarely 
seen. The edges of the spicules are often reg- 
ularly but minutely ctenate, and their surface is 
covered with fine granules. 
"Color. The entire colony is ivory white in 
alcohol. The axis is light yellowish gray, and 
the spicules are colorless.” (Nutting, 1910^.) 
To Professor Nutting’s description I add: 
Colony erect, flabellate, branched in one plane. 
Without anastomosis. Stem and branches round, 
stems 2.5 mm. in diameter, twigs near their 
ends about 2.0 mm. Anthocodiae retractile into 
tubular verrucae which are unevenly distributed 
over three sides of the stems and branches, i.e., 
"back” face of the flabellum practically free of 
zooids. Verrucae 1.5 mm. high and 1.5 mm. 
wide at base, separated by intervals of from 1.0 
to 3.0 mm. Verrucal walls irregularly covered 
with closely fitted scale-like plates. Anthocodial 
armature of eight points each composed of two 
spindles bent sharply outward at proximal end; 
these spicules quite variable, members of a pair 
may differ considerably in size. Tentacles armed 
with small spindles and curved forms furnished 
with prominent conical processes. Spicules of 
the coenenchyma oblong or squarish thick plates, 
closely fitted together. Anthocodial spicules 
colorless, plates of cortex white. 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. Ill, July, 1949 
Spicule measurements: 
Plates of the coenenchyma: 2.85 X 1.25 mm.; 
0.7 X 0.65 mm.; up to 5.0 X 2.0 mm. 
Calyx marginals: 0.6 X 0.35 mm.; 0.69 X 0.49 
mm. 
Opercular: 0.61 X 0.07 mm.; 0.64 X 0.08 mm. 
Tentacular: 0.15 X 0.025 mm.; 0.15 X 0.035 
mm.; 0.18 X 0.03 mm. 
Locality: Station 30. 
Specimen: U.S.N.M. No. 44077, preserved in 
alcohol. 
Remarks: The Resurvey Collection contains a 
fine specimen of this unmistakable muriceid. It 
consists of two large flabellate portions arising 
from an expanded base free of zooids, from 
which some smaller stems also arise. The sec- 
ondary branches arise at slightly less than 90° 
angles, and soon bend upward. Branching is 
usually, but not always, alternate, chiefly in one 
plane; the branches do not anastomose. The 
species has been taken previously only by the 
"Siboga” and "Albatross.” 
Paracis orientalis (Ridley) 
Figs, le, 5ar-e; PI. 1, fig. 4 
Acis orientalis Ridley 1882: 126, pi. 5, figs. 1-6. 
Diagnosis: Colony erect, irregularly branched 
in one plane, without anastomosis; flabellum 
arising from a distinctly expanded and encrust- 
ing base which bears numerous zooids. Stems 
round in cross section, 2.5 mm. in diameter; 
twigs, near end, 1.5 to 1.75 mm. in diameter. 
Anthocodiae retractile into low, tubular to dome- 
like verrucae, distributed on all sides of the 
colony, less common on the "back” face. Ver- 
rucae vary considerably in size, most commonly 
1.0 mm. in diameter by 0.5 mm. or less in 
height, sometimes 2.0 mm. in basal diameter by 
over 0.5 mm. in height. Verrucal walls covered 
with irregular, multispinose scales, latter, at dis- 
tal margin, reduced to simple spine with flat- 
tened, tubercular base. Anthocodial armature 
consisting of eight points, each formed of two 
contiguous bent spindles, and two curved spin- 
dles placed transversely beneath each point, to- 
