6 ART. 7. — K. KINOSIIITA : ON SOME MURICEID CORALS 



They exhibit in details a perfect identity with one another, ex- 

 cept in the color of spicules. Namely in one specimen the 

 spicules are white, while in all the other specimens they are pur- 

 plish red.-^ 



The following description is based upon the specimen with 

 white spicules, which is shown in fig. 2. 



The polyp- cells are arranged irregularly on the anterior 

 surface of the colony and subalternately in two rows on terminal 

 twigs, with the exception of a branch on which they occur in 

 reversed arrangement. The numerical density of polyp-cells on the 

 branches varies considerably, usually 12-14 in one centimeter. On 

 tip of the twigs there always exist a pair of polyps. The polyp- 

 cells occur only exceptionally on the posterior surface of the colony. 



The polyp-calyx is, when retracted, 1 mm. in diameter and 

 0.3 mm. in height. It is composed of two kinds of scaly spicules 

 arranged in two circles. The one, arranged in one or two trans- 

 verse rings at the base of calyx, is thick, dentate and elongate 

 or slightly rounded, the outer surface being densely covered 

 with large tuberculated warts, which often develop into high 

 pointed protuberances. The size varies a great deal. The other 

 kind of the spicules is scaly, with marginal teeth and notches ; the 

 portion above the nucleus is generally somewhat elongated, armed 

 with long teeth (usually somewhat more distinctly pointed than 

 shown in fig. 10), and provided with median warts, which unite 

 themselves into comb-like ridges. The dimensions of this kind 

 of spicules are : 0.48 x 0.23, 0.45 x 0.21 mm. 



The spicules of the second kind are loosely set and movable. In 

 typical cases they are arranged regularly in two transverse rings. 

 The upper ring is composed of eight spicules, arranged opposite 



2) Compure IIicKsox : Alcyonaria of Maldives, III., p. 816. 



