152 



The appearance of the colony to the naked eye is smooth, but with a 

 low power a markedly glistening arenaceous surface is seen. 





•^ -V 



Fig. 70. Dactylonephthya granulata. — 

 General view of the tip of a lobe 

 of the colony, showing the regular 

 calyces ; enlarged about four times. 



Fig. 71. Dactylonephthya granulata. — Por- 

 tion of stem to show how it is densely 

 filled with large spindles. 



The whole colony is hard ; the canal walls of the 

 main stem and lobes contain numerous large warty 

 spindles. In addition to these, however, there is an 

 outer layer of small clubs, the pointed ends of which 

 are directed inwards ; these give the characteristic scale- 

 like appearance ; some of these are slightly foliate while 

 others approach the spindle-type. There are few or no 

 spicules in the tentacles. 



The following are typical measurements of the 

 spicules in millimetres : — 



{(i) Large spindles from the interior, r02 x 0'12 ; 

 1-3 X 0-15; 1-3 X 0-24. 



(/>) Clubs from the external layer, 0*17 x 0-07; 

 0-19 X 007. 



(c) Spindles from the external layer, 0-17 x 0-03. 



The colour is pale chocolate-brown. 

 Locality : Gaspar Straits, East Coast of Sumatra. 



Fig. 72. Spicules of Dac- 

 tylonephthya granu- 

 lata. 



