151 



pelled to exclude this new form from that family. The large massive spindles 

 suggest Sclerop/ii/tam, but there are distinct polyp-calyces. 



Among Nephthyids, the possibility of its being allied to Capnella suggested 

 itself, but the difference of internal spiculation is against close relationship. In 

 CupiK'lhi the canal walls are thick and densely packed with relatively Hmall 

 spicules which are visible only when viewed with a lens. In Dactyloueplttliiiio 

 the canal walls are thin and in a cross section are barely visible ; at the same 

 time they contain rerii hinje spindle-shaped spicules which are not extremely 

 numerous. To no other genus in the family Nephthyidte does it show any 

 marked resemblance. 



Generic diagnosis. 



The colony consists of a short stalk from which branches arise almost 

 vertically, dividing into digitiform lobes on which the polyps are borne. The 

 whole colony is hard and rigid, the interior being packed with lair/e thick 

 spindles ; these occur on the thin walls of the longitudinal canals ; they are 

 most abundant in the stalk, diminishing both in number and size in the lobes. 

 The surface of the colony is smooth to the naked eye, but with a low power 

 presents a glistening arenaceous appearance and a minute tessellated structure. 

 This is due to the heads of abundant small club-shaped spicules. 



There are no distinct verrucie, but a calyx-like portion stands out from the 

 general surface as a low dome ; the tentacles are simply infolded and this gives 

 the appearance of an octoradiate structure on the top of the dome. 



The spicules of the stalk and central portion of the lobes are long warty 

 spindles ; those of the surface of the coenenchyma are (1) club-shaped, (2) clubs 

 with a hint of foliation, and (3) a few spindles ; all these are much smaller than 

 the spindles from the interior. 



There are few or no spicules in the tentacles. 



Dactylonephthya granulata, n. sp. 



The colony is 30 mm. in height and 25 mm. in maximum breadth ; the 

 basis of attachment is broken off. It consists of a stalk, 10 mm. in length and 

 8 mm. in diameter, which divides into three nearly equal lobes arranged almost 

 in a whoil. These again bear secondary lobes or digitiform processes in an 

 irregular manner. The diameter of a primary lobe is 6 mm. ; that of a second- 

 ary lobe is about '2d mm. 



The polyps are closely apposed on the lobes, twenty or thirty being a 

 common number. There are no distinct veruccre and anthocodife ; the tentacles 

 are simply infolded within a small dome-like calyx. The calyx shows an 

 octoradiate structure, and is about 1 mm. in diameter and 0-75 mm. in height. 



