108 



or curved spindles with few small spines on the surface, the lower measuring 

 on an average 019 mm. in length and 0017 mm. in breadth, while the upper 

 have an average length of 0'25 mm. and breadth of 0'019 mm. 



The Stiitzbiindel forms a sheath for the back of the polyp-stalk and consists 

 of a number of spindles which average 1'12 mm. in length. Two or three 

 may project as a small blunt conical point beyond the poly})-head. 



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

 with numerous simple blunt spines, and varying in length from 025 to 1"6 mm. 

 and in breadth from 0016 to 01(3 mm. 



[b) In the stalk there are straight or curved spindles, often branched at 

 one end, where the branches vary in number from two to six, and irregular rod- 

 to spindle-shaped forms. All are thickly covered with numerous large simple 

 to branched spines. The spindles vary in length from 024 to ToO mm. and in 

 breadth from 0-048 to O'OH mm. 



Canal-wall spicules : (a) In the stem the spicules are smooth, flat, striated 

 rods with blunt teeth on the edges. They measure from 0'048 to 0'12 mm. in 

 length and from O'OIS to 0'03 mm. in breadth. 



{/>) In the stalk the spicules are similar to those of the canal walls of the 

 stem but slightly larger. 



Colour — The stalk, stem and branches are white to greyish-white ; the 

 upper portion of the polyp-stalks red, the polyp-spicules white. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Dendronephthya ochracea, Henderson. 



The specimen is almost complete, wanting only a small branch at the tip ; 

 it is egg-shaped, with the long axis of the egg at an angle to the stalk ; it 

 measures 47 cm. in height and 4 cm. in maximum breadth. 



The stalk, 25 cm. long, is thick and rigid, and gives off a number of 

 thick-walled stolons from its base. It is granular in appearance and is 

 marked in its lower portion by transverse, in its upper portion by longitudinal, 

 ridges and furrows. 



The polyparium is oval in outline and very compact ; it consists of a 

 number of branches which are arranged in imperfect whorls round the stem. 

 There is a slight flattening in one plane due to the greater development of the 

 branches in that plane. The branches are cylindrical and give rise by repeated 

 division to the polyp-bearing twigs ; they stand at a right angle to the stem, and 

 in one of the lower branches there is a slight flattening of the lower portion. 



The polyps are arranged in groups of three to ten, groups of seven and 

 eight occurring most frequently. These groups stand apart from one another, 

 so that no larger groups are formed. All the polyps reach the surface of the 

 polyparium thus giving it a compact ajipearance. The heads are low and oval, 



