312 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



This specimen does not agree with any described species of Scirpearella, but comes 

 nearest to Scirpearella rubra, with which, however, we cannot identify it. 

 Locality : Deep water outside pearl banks, Gulf of Manaar. 



Scirpearella divisa, n. sp. Plate VI., fig. 8. 



A fragment of a reddish-orange colony with four 1 (ranches, 7 centims. in height, about 

 2 millims. in diameter. The verrucas are very low and gently rounded ; towards the 

 end of the highest branch, where they are closely crowded and very distinct, the 

 arrangement appears to be in four rows with a suggestion of a spiral ; in the older 

 parts the verrucse are very inconspicuous, not close together, and somewhat irregularly 

 disposed. There are two enormous cirriped galls, the broadest almost 1 centim. 

 across. The ccenenchyma is finely granular, almost smooth to the naked eye. The 

 axis is very calcareous, light yellow in colour, with ten shallow grooves on the part 

 examined. It measured there about 1 '4 millims. in diameter out of the total branch 

 diameter of 2 millims. Thus the thickness of the ccenenchyma is very moderate. 



The spicules are chiefly minute, warty, double clubs, measuring 0'04 millim to 

 0'06 millim. in length, but usually 0'05 millim. ; most are yellowish, a minority 

 colourless. The bare middle part of the double club is very short. There are also 

 yellowish and uncoloured warty spindles, measuring O'l millim. in length by 0*02 millim. 

 in maximum breadth. 



Scirpearella sp. a. 



One specimen with a length of 307 millims. The stem is divided at a distance ot 

 39 millims. from the flat base, and is flexible. Prominent verrucas occur all round 

 the stem in rows. The axis is deeply grooved in the lower part, but the grooving is 

 hardly noticeable higher up. 



The fragment approaches Scirpearella moniliforme, but differs in colour and in 

 predominance of warty clubs over spindles, and in not having shallow verrucas. 



Scirpearella sp. /3. 



Another fragment, measuring 205 millims. in length. Verrucas scarcely prominent, 

 polyps white, a longitudinal white line is seen on one side. The axis is horny and 

 very calcareous, faintly and irregularly marked by grooves. 



The spicules, length by breadth in millimetres, are as follows : 



Stellate forms, 0-06 X 0"05 ; 0"07 X 0*06. 



Double clubs, 01)6 X 0-03. 



Spindles, 0"06 X 0"02 ; 0'08 X 0-025. 



This does not agree with any of the formerly described species. 



Scirpearella sp. y. 



Another fragment which measures 258 millims. in length is included in the 

 collection. 



