79 



The polyparium is compact, regular in outline, inverted cone-shaped with 

 a slight flattening on one side, and reaches its largest diameter just a little below 

 the tip. It consists of numerous branches which arise on all sides of the stem 

 and which gradually increase in size towards the tip of the stem. Near the 

 tip three large branches are given oft' among which the stem ends in a 

 small branch. 



The polyps are arranged in groups of six to twenty, and these again into 

 larger groups. The polyps of a group all reach practically the same level and 

 in the larger groups the surface is generally flat, but here and there a marked 

 tendency to concavity is to be observed. The polyps sit at an obtuse angle 

 on short stalks ; they are low, oval bodies, measuring up to 0*40 mm. in height 

 and 048 mm. in breadth. The spicules are arranged in eight double rows in 

 each of which there are four to five pairs of converging spicules. The uppermost 

 pair is slightly larger and may project a little. There are in addition a few 

 spicules arranged horizontally. The spicules are flattened spindles, either 

 straight or curved, with small spines on their surface, and in a few cases bifid 

 at one end. They measure on an average 0'24 mm. in length and 0025 mm. in 

 breadth, while the uppermost pair may reach a length of 0'32 mm. and a 

 breadth of 0-026 mm. On the aboral surface of each tentacle two rows of 

 small rod -like spicules are present. 



The Stiitzbtindel is not strongly developed. It consists of a few spicules, 

 one or two of which may reach a length of 136 mm., and a breadth of 0048 

 mm., and may project for a distance of 0*24 mm. 



Cortical spicules : {a) The stem contains spindles, either straight, curved 

 or sharply bent, from 0'32 to 31 mm. long, from 0064 to 024 mm. broad, and 

 covered with prominent smooth to rough spines. In addition there are a 

 few of each of the following — clubs, irregular stars and irregular three-rayed 

 forms. Nearly all are either faint pink or brownish-pink in colour, only a few 

 being colourless, and in several there is a division at one end into prongs which 

 run parallel to one another. 



(h) In the stalk there are irregular spindles, clubs, stars, rods, and a 

 number of large three- and four-rayed forms ; also a few large spindles, either 

 straight or curved, covered on all sides with large spines or having them 

 markedly developed along one side. The large spindles may I'each a length of 

 064 mm. and a breadth of 008 mm. The rayed forms have a maximum length 

 of O'To mm. The irregular forms vary in length from 008 to 0*32 mm. The 

 larger three-rayed forms are pink and lie on the surface of the stalk visible to 

 the eye. 



Canal-wall spicules : (a) In the stem there are straight or curved spindles, 

 clubs, a few three-rayed forms, and a number of small irregular spindles. All 

 of these are thickly covered by rough warts. In addition there are various 



