100 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



they are alternately large and small the smaller forms being probably younger. 

 They are also separated by greater intervals. 



This specimen comes nearest to S. pourtalesi, Brook, but cannot be identified with 

 it. It differs, for instance, in not having " crowded r polyps, and the arrangement of 

 the spines is also different. 



Locality : Station LV., outside the pearl banks, Gulf of Manaar. 



Stichopathes contorta, n. sp. Plate, fig. 3. 



A simple slender colony, 40 centims. long, attached to a piece of rock. It is 

 very sinuous, growing first upwards, then coiling and turning downwards, again 

 twisting and starting on an upward course. Thus the total height is only 7 centims., 

 and the growing point is but 3 centims. above the base. The diameter of the axis 

 is 1 millim. and is uniform throughout. The colour is blackish with a brown tinge, 

 the axis is hollow down to the disc of attachment. 



The spines are of a pale horny colour, and are slightly but distinctly papillose. 

 They are arranged in longitudinal rows in the lower portion about two to two and 

 a half lengths apart, seven being seen from one aspect. Further up, a distinct steep 

 spiral arrangement may be seen seven being required to form one revolution. Those 

 in one longitudinal row are about two lengths apart. 



The polyps are arranged on one side of the axis at intervals of about 1 millim., 

 which is also the length of a polyp. 



The oral cone is prominent and the mouth opening circular. The tentacles are about 

 0-5 millim. in length even in a contracted state. Young polyps are frequent between 

 the larger older forms. 



This species is nearest S. lutkeni (Brook), but differs from it both in the number 

 and arrangement of the spines. 



Locality : From off Galle and onwards up West Coast of Ceylon. 



Stichopathes papillosa, n. sp. Plate, figs. 6 and 13. 



A complete, simple, robust colony attached to a piece of rock. It is 38 centims. 

 long and attains a height of 18 centims. 



The first 4 centims. are almost straight, the remainder coiled into ten distinct 

 dextrorse spirals, 13 millims. in diameter and averaging 14 millims. high. The axis 

 is l - 25 millims. in diameter at the base and tapers gradually to - 5 millim. at the 

 top. At a distance of 6 centims. from the base there is a projection which indicates 

 the remains of a branch. The colour is black at the lower part, becoming lighter 

 towards the apex. 



The spines are slightly but distinctly papillose, and vary in number in the different 

 parts of the colony ; thus at the base fourteen can be counted from one aspect, whereas 

 at the top only ten and points of two are visible. Those near the base are conical and 

 covered throughout their whole length with small papillse, but on the upper part of 



