ANTIPATHARIA. 1 1 



the colony the papillae are confined to the apex of the spines, which in this region 

 are more flattened and triangular. They are arranged in distinct dextrorse spirals, 

 and are about one length apart. 



The coenenchyma is very thick on the side devoid of polyps. 



The polyps are about 1 millhn. in diameter and almost form a square the directive 

 tentacles being inserted at the corners and the sagittal pair at a slightly lower level. 

 The tentacles are very long when expanded, but on contraction form low, broad 

 cones. The oral cavity is large and elliptical, being elongated transversely. The 

 oral cone is large and prominent. The polyps in the upper part of the colony are 

 close together, but lower down they are separated by a distinct groove. Smaller 

 polyps, probably young forms, are of not infrequent occurrence. 



The lower part of the stem is covered with Polyzoa. 



The distinctive features of this new species are : the thickness of the coenenchyma, 

 the papillose character of the spines, together with the dextrorse spiral arrangement, 

 and the distance between the spines as compared with their length. 



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



Stichopathes gracilis, Gray, var. spiralis, nov. 



A very slender, simple colony, 58 centims. in length. Owing to its sinuous and 

 spiral course, it only attains a height of 20 centims. It is attached by a broadened 

 basal expansion. The first 5 centims. are straight ; succeeding this there is a 

 sinuous portion 17 centims. long, followed by two distinct spirals 6 centims. in 

 diameter and about 6 centims. high. The diameter at the base of the stem is 

 1 minim, and this measurement scarcely diminishes even at the tip. The colour 

 appears black, but when viewed with transmitted light has a decided reddish-brown 

 tinge. The stem is hollow to the very base. 



The spines near the base are very much damaged, but appear to be short, some- 

 what flattened cones, irregularly arranged, a comparatively small number (about 5) 

 being visible from one aspect. About the middle portion of the colony they are 

 short and triangular, standing perpendicularly to the axis, and disposed in irregular 

 longitudinal rows and dextrorse spirals. The spines in a longitudinal row are 

 separated by about two lengths. Six can be counted from one aspect. 



Near the top of the colony the spines are much smaller and inclined to the axis, 

 the upper margin being concave and the lower convex. They are arranged in very 

 steep dextrorse spirals, nine in one spiral being seen from one aspect. 



The distance between any two varies greatly from two to four lengths. The 

 polyps are arranged in a single longitudinal row, and are very large and prominent, 

 measuring about 2 millims. in length. They are slightly elongated, the oral cone 

 being low but distinct. The tentacles are disposed in three pairs, the sagittal pair 

 being inserted at a considerably lower level than the others. They are very 

 long when fully expanded, but when contracted are low, broad and conical ; others are 



