141 



TluMv is no deliiiite l)i';uifliiiig, l)ut lubed processes occur in both, and on these 

 [)olyps are borne, many also occurring on the general stem. 



The general colour of the colony is a yellowish brown and presents a 

 wrinkled appearance due in part to white bent spicules placed in all directions. 



The main stem is composed of about twelve longitudinal canals which 

 connect by solenia with the several polyps. The jiartition walls of these canals, 

 which are densely packed with spicules, give rigidity to the colony l)ut shrivel 

 considerably in spirit. The grouping of the polyps as well as the structure of the 

 anthocodiee are identical with those described in the previous report. But the 

 polyps with their stalks measure about 5 mm. 



The spicules are also of the same types but the measurements differ in a 

 marked degree. In the ccenenchyma they consist of straight and curved spindles 

 densely covered with papillose warts. The following are some of the measure- 

 ments in millimetres : 1-8 x 0-2 ; 2 x 0-6 ; 0'6 x 0'3. 



Those of the polyps and polyp stalks are smaller and not so warty. In 

 millimetres they measure 0(3 x O'Oo ; 0'5 x 0'05 ; 0"4 x 0'05. 



The differences between this specimen and the type, e.if., as regards the 

 distinction between stalk portion and branched polyparium, the size of the 

 polyps, the size of the spicules, etc., inight at first sight suggest the establish- 

 ment of a new species, but an examination of the two specimens shows that 

 this procedure would be unjustifiable. We see the need for a comparison of 

 young and older forms, and also that importance should be attached to polyp- 

 structure and not to mere dimensional distinctions. 



Locality : Andamans Sea, 270-45 fathoms. Marine Survey. 



There are also three small colonies. The largest of these is 28 cm. in 

 height and 25 cmm. in breadth with a basal trunk 11 mm. in diameter ; it is 

 considerably flattened in one plane. The second is 20 cm. high and 20 

 cmm. broad and is attached to a piece of coral. In a third, which consists of 

 an expanded basal disc whence arise two almost equal main lobes, the polyps 

 are continued nearly to the base so that the stalk portion is hardly perceptible. 



Stereacanthia armata, n. sj). 



We refer to this species three specimens which are respectively 65 mm., 

 40 mm. and 40 mm. in height. 



The largest consists of an elongated stalk-portion 11 mm. in diameter 

 from which two large branches about 7 mm. in diameter arise about the same 

 level. These again bear secondary lobes. The stalk of each of the other 

 colonies is very much flattened and in one case is 17 mm. in breadth and 3 mm. 

 in thickness. After a distance of 30 mm. from the base it divides into three 

 almost equal lobes which give it a bush-like appearance. 



