65 



The stalk 1ms hccn considerably <laniago(l, l)iit i.s short, thick, rigid, 

 leathery in texture, somewhat granulai' in appearance and gives off a few 

 stolons. Its upper portion is hidden by reHexed branches. 



The polyparium has been cut and it is diHicult to determine its original 

 shape. It is Hattened in one plane and consists 

 of two main portions, each of which has a 

 somewhat bottle-brush appearance. From the 

 lower part of the stem a few branches are given 

 off; above this the stem may be considered 

 either to divide into two main portions, or to 

 give off at one side, at an angle of 45° to itself, 

 a large cylindrical branch which has had a 

 strong development. This point is rather diffi- 

 cult to determine as the stalk and stem have 

 been split up for a considerable distance on one 

 side, but the latter alternative seems the more 

 probable. From the surface of the main stem 

 and branch small cylindrical bi'anches are given 

 off in every direction, which by repeated 

 division give rise to the polyp-bearing twigs. 

 The lower branches, three in number, are 

 flattened, two of them being leaf-like, and 

 almost surrounding the stem, leaving only two 

 small spaces, in one of which, at a slightly 

 lower level, a small branch arises with cylin- 

 drical lower part and flattened upper umbrella- 

 like portion, the concave side being uppermost, 

 a corresponding branch would have been found at the other open space had 

 the stalk and lower part of the stem not been destroyed by a long cut. 

 The lower branches, being reflexed, form a collar which hides the upper part 

 of the stalk. 



The polyps are arranged in small groups of three to seven individuals each, 

 but five is the commonest numbei'. The polyp is placed on a stalk about 1 mm. 

 l(jng. The stalks of a group diverge considerably in all parts of the polyparium. 

 The polyps, which measure about 06 mm. in height by 0"6 mm. in breadth, are 

 placed on the stalks at an obtuse angle. The polyp-spicules are arranged in 

 eight double rows of from six to seven pairs of converging spicules each. One 

 of each ujjpermost pair may be much larger and have one spicule projecting 

 far beyond the polyp. The lower polyp-spicules measure on an average 0-33 

 mm. in length, while the large i)rojecting spicule may reach a length of 0-90 

 mm. and project a distance of 0-30 mm. This large spicule is paired with a 

 9 



Fig. 34. D. gaajamensis. . 



It is more than probable that 



