102 



Dendronephthya lanxifera, Holm. 



To this species we refer a greatly damaged incomplete specimen. The 

 outline of the polyparium seems to have been oval. 



From the whole surface of the stem and branches smaller branches are 

 given off which by repeated division give rise to the polyp-bearing twigs. All 

 the upper branches are cylindrical, but the lower branches show a slight flatten- 

 ing in the lower part, and the terminal twigs are a little thickened towards the 

 ends. 



The polyps are arranged in groups of about fifteen each, and several of 

 these may be grouped together, owing to the short terminal twigs, into a large 

 somewhat angular bundle whose surface is either flat or slightly concave. The 

 polyps stand in close contact with one another, measure on an average about 

 Oo mm. in height and the same in breadth, and are placed at an obtuse angle 

 on the stalks which are about 1 mm. long. The spicules form eight double 

 rows in each of which there are six to seven converging pairs, the uppermost 

 pair not larger than the rest, although their tips may be seen beyond the polyp- 

 head. They measure from 018 to 030 mm. in length and are furnished with 

 few spines. On the aboral surface of each tentacle there are two densely 

 packed rows of small, flattish, toothed spindles about O'OtJ mm. in length. 



The Stutzbundel is well developed, especially in the outer polyps of each 

 bundle, where one of the spicules may reach a length of 2 "5 mm. and project 

 0'6 mm. beyond the polyp. 



Cortical spicules : (n) In the stem there are spindles either straight or 

 curved, having regularly arranged, simple to branched warts, and varying 

 from 0-30 to 1-5 mm. in length and from 006 to 0-15 mm. in breadth. Many 

 of the spindles show a bifurcation at one end. 



Canal-wail spicules : (a) In the stem canal walls there are numerous 

 flattened spindles and three-rayed forms, which average about 0'5 mm. in length 

 and 015 mm. in breadth. 



Colour — The stem and branches are whitish to semi-transparent ; the twigs 

 white ; the polyps white, except for the outer polyps of the bundles, which are 

 red. 



Locality : Andamans, 15 fathoms. 



This species is also represented by a fragment of a colony, or it may be by 

 a small colony of which the Imsal part is wanting. 



It consists of a few branches which are more or less cylindrical in shape and 

 give rise to large groups of polyps. Each group is about 7 mm. in diameter, 

 and consists of a number of small bundles which stand on short twigs and have 

 their margins marked by a ring of deep red-coloured polyps. The groups may 

 appear larger owing to one or two being in close contact with one another. The 



