11 



measurements of soft parts it must be remembered that the whole colony has 

 been much contracted by preservation in strong spirit. Fig. 4. 



The polyps have almost globular calyces or verruca?, w^ith a diameter of 

 about 1 mm. The tentacles are in most cases completely retracted, and the 

 summit of the calyx shows a sharply defined circular aperture. The polyps 

 with their calyces and precise circular aperture recall those of some of the 

 Pennatulids, such as Virgularids. On the wall of the calyx there are eight 

 triangular points, each consisting of two to three pairs of spicules arranged en 

 chevroti, surmounting a collaret of several horizontal rows. In most cases, 

 however, the projecting spindles of the cortical crenenchyma hide the base of 

 the calyx and may even intrude upon it. The polyp itself is very minute and 

 is completely retractile within the globular calyx. The tentacles are short and 

 thick, apparently without spicules, and with about half a dozen pairs of 

 pinnules. 



Spicules. — Apart from a few irregular minute forms found on the canal 

 walls (and possil)ly extraneous), all the spicules are spindles. Many are huge, 

 most are densely warted. The warts are often in close set transverse rows, so 

 that the spindle has a striated appearance. Many of the spindles are curved 

 in a sinuous fashion ; not a few are irregularly forked. Fig. 5. 



The following measurements were taken of the spicules, length and breadth 

 in millimetres : — 



From the stalk : 95 x -534 ; 7 x -51 ; 575 x -476. 



From the cortex: 55 x -476; 3-5 x -28; 1-75 x -153. 



From the inner wall | 5 , .4 3 , .gg ; 2 x -15 ; 1 x -125 ; -9 x -1. 



of the cup : J 



From the canal walls : 6 x -51 ; 4*25 x -4 ; 275 x 32. 

 From the polyps : 16 x 112; 102 x -05; 45 x -034 ; 17 x 018; 



•13 X 017. 



Position of St ude notes. — If this type is to be referred to any of the recog- 

 nised families of the Alcyonacea it must be to the Alcyoniida? or to a position 

 between Alcyoniidte and Nephthyidtie. In the retractility of the whole poly- 

 parium, as well as in the mode of branching, the disposition of the polyps 

 and their armature, it is removed from the Nephthyids and Siphonogorgids. 



In certain respects, e.g., the distinct calyces into which the delicate upper 

 parts of the polyps are retracted and the large longitudinal canals continued in 

 part to the base of the colony, Studeriotes resembles Nidalia, but the Nidalia 

 colony is unbranched, and there are many other differences apart from the 

 retractile polyparium. In certain respects, e.g., in its huge spindles and in the 

 finger-like lobes densely covered with polyps, Studeriotes resembles a form like 

 Sclerop/ti/tum polydactglam, but the polyps are quite different in the two, and 

 there is not in Studeriotes any hint of dimorphism. The non-retractile calyces, 



