forms beset w iih thorny points, and c»n the other with typical spindles with ordinary verrucae 

 in regular whorls \ few true clubs are also seen, and an occasional branched spindle. Many 

 of i ider spindles are bent in an are, and some are doubly curved. 



dor. rhe colony is a light tan brown, the polyp ring but little from the 



lenchyma. 



General distribution. type locality. Northwest Coasl of Australia, 50 fathoms. 

 This i is .iKo reported from the Indian Ocean. 



The writer finds himself unable to agree with the opinion expressed by Hickson, and 

 Th and Simpson that this species is identical with Solenocaulon tortuosum. The absence 



of the Y-shaped spicules regarded l>y Thomson as characteristic of S. tortuosum seems a good 

 specific character. The basal part of the stem in the type specimen was missing, hence the 

 oval spicules were not described by Gray. 



Solenocaulon querciformis new species. (Plate 1, fig. 1, ia-. Plate XI, fig. ij. 



St.it. 14J. Anchi ff Laiwui, coast of Obi Major. 23 meters. Mud. (Young specimen). 



Stat. 284. s 4 3 . 1 S.. 127 {<>.-]•'.. 828 meters. Grey mud. (Type specimi 



I olony dendritic in form, but somewhat Babellate, 23.5 cm. in length. A stem 14 cm. 

 long, found in the same bottle, appears to belong to the same specimen. If so, the colony was 

 37.5 cm. in length. The stem and all branches except the ends of the twigs are strongly 

 flattened, the larger branches being coarsely and déeply furrowed lengthwise, but in a slightly 

 spiral manner, these furrows being numerous and conspicuous. The stem measures 9.5 mm. 

 X 7 mm. in section. The first branch is short and flat and soon coalesces with a larger one 

 above it. A large branch is given off a little above the first and on the opposite side. This 

 is much flattened, distorted and furrowed, and gives off numerous, usually lateral branchlets 

 which are laterally expanded at their origins and are turtuous, like the branches of an oak 

 tree, and sometimes give off branchings of the third order. The main stem gives off two 

 other large branches which are greatly expanded laterally and also at the bases of the 

 branchlets, and bear a series of unequal grooves and furrows at the front and back. The 

 largest of these main branches is 9 mm. X 6 mm. in section near its base. Alter giving off 

 these main branches the stem pursues an undulating course, giving off irregular lateral branches 

 and breaking up at its distal end into a tuft of branchlets which re-divide until branchings of 

 the 5 1 are attained, the whole forming a clump of aggregated branchlets. The ultimate 



twij usually quite round in section, having a diameter of about 1.3 mm. The calyi 



onfined mostly to the smaller branches and twigs where they are usually lateral in position 

 I rather distant, being about 3 mm. apart on the average. 



The individual calyces are conical in form and vary greatly in size. A typical one 

 1.5 mm. in height and about the same in diameter. They are often slightly inclined 

 ard t: nds of the twigs. Their walls are filled with vertically disposed spindli 



fhe poly] n to be but partially retractile and most ol them rest with their very heavy 



