85 



are six to seven pairs of converging spicules, one of the uppermost pair of each 

 double row projecting a little beyond the polyp. The spicules are spindles 

 either straight or slightly bent, with few regularly arranged spines, and vary 

 from Oil to 0'27 mm. in length, while the projecting spicule is usually about 

 ((■4 nun. On the aboral surface of each tentacle there are two rows of small 

 flat, toothed rods which average about 004 mm. in length. 



The Sttitzhundel is well developed, one of the spicules measuring on an 

 average about 2" mm. in length and projecting for a distance of 0-46 to 08 

 mm. beyond the polyp ; it has on its almost smooth projecting part a small 

 number of regularly arranged spines. 



Cortical spicules : (a) In the stem there are straight or curved spindles 

 which vary greatly both in size and in the number and size of the projecting 

 spines ; in the smaller spindles there are fewer and simpler spines, on the 

 larger more numerous simi)le or blunt branched spines ; in both alike the 

 spines are regularly arranged. The spindles vary in length from 024 to 30 

 mm. and in breadth from 0048 to 037 mm. In addition there are a few flat, 

 smooth, striated, blunt rods. 



(/-) In the stalk there are spindles, three-rayed, four-rayed, and a few 

 irregular, star-shaped and slightly elongated forms. All are closely covered by 

 rough branched warts. The spindles vary in length from 024 to 19 mm. and in 

 breadth from 0-08 to0i9 mm. There are also a few smooth, flat, striated rods. 



Canal- wall spicules : {(/) In the stem there are large spindles closely 

 covered by rough, branched warts. They vary in length from 04 to 2-4 mm. 

 and in breadth from 009 to 029 mm. In addition there are a few with fewer 

 and simpler warts, which average about 04 mm. in length. 



{b) In the stalk the spindles are similar to those of the stem but slightly 

 shorter and thicker. There are in addition three- and four-rayed forms, and 

 forms with three to four rays arranged tripod-fashion with the principal ray 

 standing at right angles to the point of junction. 



Colour — The stalk, stem and principal branches are light orange-yellow ; 

 the twigs yellowish-white ; the polyp-stalks white, and often streaked with 

 red ; and the polyp-spicules a faint bluish-purple. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Dendronephthya elegans, Henderson. 



This species is represented by one complete specimen which measures 5'1 

 cm. in height and 29 cm. in greatest breadth. 



The stalk is 2 cm. long, thick, fairly rigid, granular in appearance with its 

 upper part hidden by the reflexed lower bi-anches. 



The polypariura is more or less regular in outline, and has a nearly con- 



