82 



Canal-wall spicules : ('/) The stem has short, thick spindles ; cylindrical, 

 globular, three- and four-rayed forms. In the last-mentioned, three of the rays 

 form a tripod from which the fourth rises at right angles. All are thickly 

 covered with prominent projections which vary in shape from simple or 

 branched thorns to slightly toothed warts. In addition there are small, flat, 

 smooth spindle-shaped to star-shaped forms. A considerable resemblance is 

 shown to several of the forms occurring in the stalk cortex. 



(/;) The stalk canal walls show a great variety of spicules, including 

 spindles, cylindrical rods, three-, four- and five-rayed forms, cylindrical forms 

 giving off a number of branches which may again branch, and flat, smooth, 

 spindle- to star-shaped forms. Many of the four-rayed forms are in the shape 

 of tripods, as in the stem canal walls. Others are twins or forms of which one 

 half is the exact mirrored counterpart of the other. They are covered with 

 prominent toothed warts somewhat regularly arranged, though in some the pro- 

 jections are thorn- like and may reach a length of 0"078 mm., in which case they 

 show branching. The measurements of spicules in the case of stalk cortex, 

 and stem and stalk canal walls are too variable to be of use for sjiecific deter- 

 mination. 



Colour — Stalk white to yellowish-white with spots of red ; stem and 

 principal branches pale orange-yellow ; twigs pale to deep coral-red ; polyps 

 white. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Dendroncphthya gilva, Henderson. 



The colony is irregularly ball-shaped, showing a tendency to divide into 

 two spheres of equal size. It is slightly flattened, and has a very short stalk. 

 The colony is about 3 cm. high, and about 4 cm. broad. 



The stalk measures 10 mm. in length, is fairly thick, granular in appear- 

 ance, and gives off at the basal end a number of short, slender stolons. 

 Its upper part is hitlden, collar-wise, by the reflexed lower flattened branches. 



The polyparium is roundish, showing at its apex a tendency to divide into 

 two equal lobes. It has a very regular outline and the surface is more or less 

 flat. It is formed of a number of principal branches which have their base of 

 attachment immediately above the flattened, lower, leaf-like branches — in fact, 

 with the exception of one branch, they may be said to have their origin on the 

 upper surface of these flattened branches. These principal branches divide 

 a number of times and finally give rise to short, thick twigs on which the polyp- 

 stalks arise. 



The polyps are arranged in bundles of four to eight individuals somewhat 

 closely placed together ; four or five of these bundles often form a kind of 



