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Show 50 MISS ISA L. HILES ON GORGONACEAN [Jan. 17, slenderness of stem and branches, the smaller size of the spicules, and the fact that they are much less warted. It differs from M. umbraticoides Studer1 in the absence of the " halbseitig warzig " character of the spicules. It differs from M. complanata Wright & Studer (7) in its much more slender appearance, the thinness of the ccenenchyma, and the comparatively smooth character of the spindles, and also in colour being white, not rose-colour. It differs from M. perramosa Ridley (5) in colour and in the absence of a divergent bend of the stem at the origin of the branches. It differs from M. nitida Verrill (4) in colour, in the size of the spicules, and the lateral position of the polyps. It differs from M. gracilis Wright & Studer (7) in the lateral arrangement of the polyps at the ends of the branches, in the much less warted spindles, and in the colour of the ccenenchyma, which is not red but white. It differs from M. crassa Wright & Studer (7) in the thinness of the ccenenchyma, the lateral arrangement of the polyps, the slender character of the stem and branches, and in the much smoother character of the spicules. MURICELLA TENERA Ridley. (Plate III. figs. 3, 4.) There is one colony; it is 115 m m . high by 55 m m . across the widest part. The main stem is 2 m m . in diameter at the base. It is ramified in one plane, giving off branches on two sides at angles of about 45°; these again bear branches at angles of 45G-60°. The calyces are small and inconspicuous, "5 m m . high and 1 m m . in diameter at the base. They are borne on the two sides of the stem and branches about 2 m m . apart. The branches end in two laterally placed polyps, making the termination triangular in shape. The ccenenchyma is thin and whitish in colour; the brown axis shows through, making the whole appear fawn-colour. The polyps are brown. The spicules are long, wavy spindles, covered with warts, which are more prominent on one side than the other. They are 4-34 m m . X '29 mm., 2*34 m m . x -22 mm., -29 m m . x #036 m m . Hab. Outer slope of the reef. Depth 40-71 fathoms. This specimen differs slightly from Muricella tenera as described by Ridley (5), but the differences are not very important. The calyces are smaller, and the spicules are from two to four times the size of those of Ridley's form. The spicules of the calyx also are not arranged in such a regular row as Ridley figures ; Wright and Studer (7. p. 124) say the same about these spicules in the forms examined by them. Otherwise the colony decidedly approaches M. tenera : I have * Studer, Th., Monatsber. d. k. Akad. d, Wiss. Berlin, 1878, |