i8 3 
pass almost insensibly into those on the dorsal surface of the tentacles; and similarly the basals 
or transversals may merge with those of the polyp stalk. The maximum length of a polyp is 
2.2 mm. and breadth 1.5 mm. The colony has a breadth of 2.2 cm. and a height of 1.4 cm. 
The spicules are all spindles, straight and bent, of many sizes, mostly with very prominent 
compound warts, some with simple cones. Those of the points have a length of about 1 mm. 
A pinkish specimen from Station 301 has a total height of 3.7 cm. The densely spicu- 
lose sterile stem gives off 5 main branches covered with polyps, the first branch at a height 
of 1.7 cm. The specimen - is rather shrunken and contracted, and the stem and branches are 
grooved and wrinkled. It bears a strong superficial resemblance to Stereonepkthya whiteleggi. 
The maximum size of a polyp is 2.8 mm. The canal walls are thickly filled with stout warty 
spindles up to 0.9 mm. in length. 
Compared with Stereacanthia indica , all these specimens show cortex and polyps more 
densely filled with spicules, the larger ones shorter and tending to a greater equality in size 
(average length 0.7 mm.), while between these the cortex is filled with smaller spindles. 
Previously recorded from Sagami Bay (Japan). 
Genus Cactogorgia. 
1. Cactogorgia lampas Thomson and MacKinnon. (Plate III, Figs. 3 and 5; Plate VI, Fig. 10). 
For description see: THOMSON and MacKinnon, Alcyonarians of Sladen Expedition, Trans. 
Linn. Soc. XIII, 1909, p. 296, 2 figs. 
Stat. 164. i°42'.5 S., i30°47 / .5 E. 32 M. Sand, small stones and shells. 3 Ex. 
Stat. 260. 5° 3 6 / .5 S., I32°55 / .2E. 90 M. Sand, coral and shells. 2 Ex. 
Two orange-coloured colonies, from Station 164, the larger rising to a height of 6.2 cm., 
with a polyp-bearing head, 1.4 and 1.8 cm. in diameters. The whole surface of the stalk is 
densely spiculose, the arrangement mostly longitudinal. 
Strongly built upward-looking verrucae shelter the retracted anthocodiae, whose spicules 
are colourless. There is a crown and points arrangement, with about six to eight or even 
ten horizontal rows to the crown, and three (or sometimes four) sloping pairs of spindles 
in each point. 
The specimen agrees well with C. lampas , and is quite characteristic of this peculiar 
Nephthyid genus. 
Another specimen, incomplete, from the same station, has a height of 1.11 cm. and a 
head with diameters of 1.1 cm. and 8 mm. 
Of two specimens from Station 260, one, 3.8 cm. long, has a proportionately very slender 
stem (average diameter 2.5 mm.) and a head with a maximum diameter of 9 mm. The shorter 
specimen, 2.4 cm. long, has a stouter stem (average diameter 4 mm.) The colour of both is a 
yellowish-brown and in both the polyps are fully expanded. In these specimens the spicules of 
the crown and points are not colourless but tinged with yellow. There are 3 pairs of spindles 
in the points, and the crown has up to ten rows of spindles. The spicules agree well with 
those of C. lampas. 
Previously recorded from Seychelles. 
