'I 



I'hc small si/c of the spicul ders the surface much smoother than is usual, and the 



hyma is sponge lik' in texture. 



loi rhe colonj is dull, rather light, brown, or dust color. 



3. /' 'iculata new spi 1 Plate III, figs. 2, 2a-, Plate 1\'. lig. 9). 



i N - Paternoster [slands. 521 metei . I oral. 

 E. Kwandang Bay, North Celebes. Sn meters. Sand ;ind coral. 

 144. Aitchorage north of Salomakiëe (Dam. in Island. 45 meters, ('oral bottum and 

 Lithothamnii m. 



rhe type of this species is .1 mere fragment, but is plainly different from others of this 



- in the collection. Colony flabellate and reticulate, the part preserved being evidently from 



the margin of the colony and showing the anastomoses of the branches. The fragment 



2 cm. long, and consists ot a main branch which gives off two branchlets from one side. 



rhe lower of these gives origin to three short stubs of branches trom its outer side and sends 



forth another on the opposite side. which anastomoses with the main stem. The greatest diameter 



of the stem, near the base is 2 mm., and the least diameter of twigs is 1.2 mm. The calyces 



seem t" be more unevenly distributed than in other species, being almost contiguous in some 



places and as mnch as 2 mm. apart in others. 



rhe individual calyces, while not much exserted, have sharply cut margins and are 

 therefore more pronounced than in other species of the genus in the collection. When open 

 they have the ferm of low truncated cones, and when closed they appear as low domes. When 

 the polyp is fully retracted a series of eight points are seen directed towards the centre. These 

 points constitute a pseudo-operculum on the dorsal side of the retracted tentacles. Each opercular 

 flap consists of several spindles arranged en chevron on the proximal part of tentacle, and 

 a number of longitudinal spindles on the distal part. There is also a well marked collaret. 



\ section of a branch shows the same features as have been described in the preceding 

 species. The axis contains a number of calcareous fibres that can be separated by boiling in potash. 



Spicul es. The spicules are mainly small. but hardly minute, terete spindles which are 

 ely tuberculate, the tubercles seldom appearing to be in definite whorls. The spindles are 

 quite uniform in character. 



flor. Th<- fragment is light grayish brown. 



Tv imens of this species were found in the collection aftcr the above description 



written. They are much larger than the type, but neither is complete. One of them is 

 1 2 cm. in length, and both are plainly reticulate. 



Hicksonella new genus. 



Plexauridse with a thick ccenenchyma, calyces included and on all sides of the branches, 

 i cylinder, and two very different types of spicules. < >ne type consists of very small, 

 spindles, and the other of comparatively large, slender, bar-like, smooth spindles 

 i length of 1.2 mm. 



