23 



numerous regularly arranged, blunt warts wliich may be branched. The spindles 

 vary from 033 to 18 mm. in length, and from 015 to 0:33 mm. in breadth; 

 the rods vary in length from 0-i to 1 mm. The three- and four-rayed forms 

 average aliout 0'{» nmi. in greatest length, the clubs about ()-5 mm. 



Many of the spindles are forked at one end, the prongs lying close 

 together, or spreading apart and simulating three-rayed forms. There are also 

 spindles which give off a short branch about the middle of their length, and 

 others with prominent thorns and warts on the convex side. 



C'anal-wall spicules : (a) In the stem the spicules are similar to the spindles 

 in the cortex of the stem and are covered with numerous regularly arranged, 

 blunt, rough spines or simple warts, and vary from O'H to 3<j nun. in length and 

 from 0"09 to 042 mm. in breadth. 



(h) In the stalk the spicules are similar to those of the cortex of the stalk, 

 huge, thick spindles, forked spindles, three- and four-rayed forms, all bearing 

 numerous large, very rough or branched warts. The spindles measure up to 

 '2-1: mm. in length and ()-25 mm. in breadth, the three-rayed forms up to 1-38 

 mm. in greatest length. In addition there is a series corresi)onding in every 

 shape and differing only in being slightly smaller and in having fewer and simpler 

 though longer rough warts. Many of the latter type of spindle give off three 

 or four branches about the middle point, and the four-rayed forms are usually 

 more irregular. 



Colour — The stalk is yellowish-white, the stem and principal branches are 

 white, the smaller branches and twigs pale pink with violet tinge, the polyps 

 brownish-yellow. 



Locality : Table Island (C'ocos) ; Andamans, 15 to 35 fathoms. 



This specimen comes very near B. koUikeri, Kiikth., but differs from it in 

 the number of spicules in each double row, and in the greater variety of spicules 

 in the cortex and the canal walls. It may be regarded as a new variety of 

 D. kollikeri. 



Dcndronephthya colombiensis, Henderson. 



This species is represented by two specimens, the larger of which measures 

 10 cm. in height and about 7 cm. in greatest breadth. 



The stalk or trunk measures 3 cm., about one-third of the total height of 

 the colony. It has numerous longitudinal folds and shows at the base the 

 remains of several slender stolons. 



The polyparium is very irregular in shai^e, flattened in one plane, loose and 

 open in ajji)earance, and very rigid. From the lower part of the stem a number 

 of small branches arise, the lowest of which are flattened leaf-like structures. 

 A short distance above, the stem gives off two })rincipal branches, one standing 



