64 



length of the prominent spicule is about 3 mm. with a projection of <)<i mm. 

 In most cases a second spicule projects ; this is best seen among the younger 

 polyps, but it occurs in most of the others also. 



Cortical spicules : (a) Those of the stem are spindles, almost always slightly 

 curved and thickly covered by rough prominent warty protuberances. They 

 vary in length from 054 to 4-5 mm. and in breadth from 0039 to OOS mm. 

 They are quite visible to the naked eye, and form a rigid armature. Some of 

 the smaller have simple spiny protuberances. The spicules lie oblifjuely trans- 

 verse on the main stem and branches, but are almost perfectly longitudinal 

 on the smaller branches and polyp-stalks. 



(i^) In the stalk there is a much greater variety of spicules. In addition to 

 long spindles similar to those of the stem but with simpler warty protul)erances, 

 there are short thick clubs with rough warts, others with foliar expansions at 

 one end, short thick spindles with a foliar expansion about the middle of one 

 side, small roughly spherical bodies with rough warts, incipient three- and four- 

 rayed forms, and other very irregular forms. The arrangement produces a 

 markedly granular, one might almost say a pebbly appearance, which is broken 

 only here and there by a few large spindles apj)earing on the surface. The 

 spicules vary much in size ; some average measurements are : longer spindles, 

 3 mm. in length ; clubs, 0o5 mm. x 0"25 mm. ; spintlles with foliar expansion, 

 07 mm. X 030 mm. 



Canal-wall spicules : (a) The stem contains spindles, either straight or 

 considerably curved, and covered either with rough warts or with spines. There 

 are also many very small smooth spicules varying in shape from flattened rods 

 with prominent spines to branched forms of the same, and three-rayed forms. 

 The large spindles are from 0'65 to 4'5 mm. long and from 00(3 to Oti mm. 

 broad ; the three-rayed average 0"6 mm. x 0"36 mm. ; the small spicules are 

 up to 0105 mm. in length. 



{/>) Those of the stalk are large spindles, either straight or curved, small 

 clubs, three- and four-rayed forms and incipient four-rayed forms. Most of these 

 are characterised by a thick coat of very rough warty protuberances, while a 

 few are not so thickly covered and have simpler jjrotuberances. 



Colour — The stalk, stem and branches are white ; the polyps brick-red, 

 although a tinge of yellow is visible in some parts of the smaller branches and 

 in the polyp-stalks. 



Locality : Ganjam Coast, 15-25 fathoms. 



Dendronephthya ganjamensis, Henderson. 



The colony is bush-shaped and consists of a short stalk and two main 

 branches. It measures 7 cm. in height and 6 cm. in maximum breadth. 



