78 



sided, three-rayed, four-rayed forms, irregular stars, and small forms which 

 look like two whorls of prominent rough warts joined together. All these 

 diverse forms are covered by numerous prominent very rough or branched 

 warts, more or less regularly arranged. There are also fiat, smooth, spindle- 

 to star-shaped forms. A few measurements are given but the variability is 

 more marked both in form and in size than is suggested by the description. 

 Spindles measure up to 1'5 x 021 mm., but when expansions are present a 

 breadth of 03 mm. is reached ; three-rayed forms, 0'42 to 030 mm. ; four- 

 rayed, 036 X 030 mm., three-sided, 036 x 0-30 nun. ; clubs up to 042 x 013 

 mm. ; oval or four-sided forms, 0"42 x 018 mm. There are also numerous 

 rayed forms in which the rays are not all in one plane. 



Canal-wall spicules : (a) Those of the stem are thick spindles, measuring 

 up to 18 X 030 mm., either straight or curved, and thickly covered with large 

 blunt, rough spines. There is also a series of spindles which have fewer, 

 smoother, blunt spines. It is possible that three-rayed forms are present, 

 as several of the spicules approach that type. 



(/>) The spicules of the stalk are thick s})in(lles, either straight or curved, 

 often showing bifurcations at the end, three- and four-rayed forms, irregular 

 three-rayed forms with a flattened ray, flat, smooth, si)indle-shaped to star- 

 shaped forms, small, flattened, smooth, irregular spindles which may be branched, 

 and other irregular flat forms. The spindles, three-rayed and irregular 

 three-rayed forms are thickly covered by rough warts which may be branched ; 

 the four-rayed forms usually have fewer and simpler warts, but almost every 

 possible grade between the two varieties of tubercles is found. Spindles 

 measure up to 18 x 0"30 mm. ; three-rayed forms, 15 x 0*9 mm. ; four-rayed, 

 1 X 09 mm. ; irregular three-rayed, 1 x 09 mm., the broad ray, 042 mm., often 

 showing bifurcation. 



Colour — The stalk is pinkish-white for a small space at the base, the 

 remaining part is white ; the stem and main branches are white ; the smaller 

 branches are yellowish ; the twigs and polyps are chocolate-brown, and the 

 polyp-tentacles white with a red band of spicules on the aboral surface. 



Locality : Off Colombo, 26^ fathoms. 



Dendronephthya conica, Henderson. 



The species is represented by a complete colony which measures 8 cm. in 

 height and has a maximum diameter of 4'2 cm. 



The stalk is long, measuring 46 cm., slender, flabby, and marked by 

 numerous longitudinal ridges and furrows which are due to the collapse of 

 the walls. It gives oft" a few short, blunt, thin-walled stolons at the base, is 

 granular in appearance and leathery in texture though apparently flabby. 



