201 
A minute fragment of an ivory white colony, consisting of two branches, the longer rising 
to a height of 1.9 cm., and having a breadth of 2.5 mm. Some of the huge plates have a 
length of 4.5 mm. and a breadth of 1.5 mm. The surface of the plates (1) is roughly granular 
and one margin often bears tooth-like projections. Some (2) show half the surface ridged and 
the other half roughly granular. In this type there is often (3) a drawing out of the ridged 
half into a tapering triangle with longitudinal ridges, almost suggestive of being frayed. (4) 
There are also some relatively small rough spindles, and (5) small discs with radiating blunt 
processes and a rough upper surface, culminating in a central boss-like cluster. A larger piece 
of this beautiful form from Station 251, rises to a height of 4.6 cm. and gives off nine short 
branches, the longer .extending for 1.7 cm. 
Previously recorded from Siboga Stations 65, 253, 305. 
Genus Muricella. 
1. Muricella argentea (Nutting) = Versluysia argentea Nutting. (Plate XXIII, Fig. 10). 
For description see: NUTTING, Gorgonacea of the Siboga Exp. XIIIb, 1910, p. 40, 3 figs. 
KuKENTHAL, Gorgonaria (Das Tierreich) 1924, p. 173. 
Stat. 289. 9 0 o'.3 S., 126° 24'.5 E. 112 M. Mud, sand and shells. 1 Ex. 
Several broken specimens, the largest piece being about 4 cm. in height, with an axis 
1.5 mm. in breadth. There are numerous low calyces rising on all sides but tending to be lateral. 
The colour is white, with here and there a suggestion of brown. The axis is brown. 
The opercular points consist of two long sloping spindles, sometimes with an extra one 
at the base. The collaret is a single row. The outer spicules of the calyx are massive and 
tend to overlap. Those of the coenenchyma suggest Acis, in their size and massiveness; they 
are longitudinally disposed; and there are two distinct strata. Nutting described spindles of 4 mm. 
in length; the largest here seen was 2.3mm. 
Most of the spicules are very tuberculate spindles, sometimes so much broadened that 
they approximate to discs. Some have the ends bifid or even trifid, and an irregular twisted form 
with double ends is figured. There are also smaller less densely tuberculate spindles, and a 
minority almost smooth. All are colourless, but the large ones are very opaque. 
We follow Kuicenthal in including Versluysia argentea Nutting in the older genus 
Muricella, and may note that the polyps can be entirely retracted into the low calyces. 
Previously recorded (Nutting) from Siboga Collection, Timor Sea. 
2. Muricella ceylonensis Thomson and Henderson. 
For descriptions see: 
THOMSON and Henderson, Report Ceylon Pearl Fisheries, 1905, p. 302, 1 fig. 
THOMSON and Simpson, Alcyonarians. of Indian Ocean, 1909, p. 249. 
NUTTING, Gorgonacea of the Siboga Exp. XIII b, 1910, p. 36. 
GORDON, Notes on Muriceid Genera, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1926, p. 314. 
Stat. 305. Kampong Menanga. Solor Strait. 113 M. Stony. 1 Ex. 
Fragments of a brown colour, 3 mm. in maximum thickness, showing traces of branching 
SIBOGA-EXPEDITIE XIII d. 
26 
