115 



a imnilx'r pf l)nuulies which are very slender and of diffei-ent lengths, very 

 Habby in texture, and hanging down over the stem. These branches divide 

 into smaller branches, which divide into long slender twigs ; these after one 

 more division give rise to smaller twigs on which the polyp-stalks are 

 placed. 



The polyps are arranged in bundles of four to five individuals. These are 

 placed on stalks less than 1 mm. in length as a rule, but one polyp of each 

 group is raised above the level of the bundle, thus making the colony approach 

 the divaricate type in appearance. The outstanding polyp of a group is usually 

 given oft' from the side of the stalk, and in the angle thus formed a young polyp 

 arises, thus giving the bundle a more compact appearance. The polyps have 

 an average length of 0'54mm. and breadth of 048 mm., are placed perpendi- 

 cularly to the stalks, and have a more slender appearance than their measure- 

 ments suggest when the tentacles are expanded. The polyp-spicules are 

 arranged in eight double rows, in each of which there are four pairs of con- 

 verging spicules, the uppermost pair projecting a little beyond the polyp. At 

 the upper end of each double row a pair of spicules are present which lie a 

 little apart from the double row, and are not included in the above number 

 of pairs. The lower polyp-spicules measure on an average 0'30 mm. in length 

 while the upper may reach a length of 051 mm. They have simple spines 

 or thorns which stand at right angles to the surface. On the aboral surface of 

 the tentacles are two loosely arranged rows of flat plate-like spicules with 

 irregular toothed edges. 



The Stiitzbiindel is rather interesting ; it consists of a few prominent 

 spicules, one of which may project for a considerable distance beyond the 

 polyp and measures on an average about TS mm. in length ; but another 

 feature must be noticed, namely, that in several of the secondary twigs along the 

 back there is seen a large prominent spicule which usually continues up the back 

 of the twigs of the third order and may form part of the Stiitzbundel of one 

 polyp ; this spicule may have a length of 6(3 mm. and a breadth of 018 mm. 

 Along the back of the terminal twigs there is usually a much smaller spicule 

 which gives way to the Stiitzbiindel spicules on the polyp-stalks. 



Cortical spicules : (a) The stem and branches have long, slender spindles 

 covered with simple spine-like protuberances. They are arranged very irregu- 

 larly and only in the twigs take up a more or less longitudinal position. They 

 have an average length of 25 mm. and vary from 006 to 012 mm. in thickness. 

 In addition to these a few four-rayed forms are present; a number of the 

 spindles show markedly forked ends. 



{/)) In the stalk there are spindles similar to those of the stem, and 

 numerous three- and four-rayed forms ; the latter are flattened, have promi- 

 nent irregularly toothed edges, may measure 48 mm. in greatest length, and 



