156 



The anthocodise are completely retractile within the verrucie. The armature 

 is very dense. It consists of (1) a collar composed of at least six or seven 

 horizontal rows ot curved spindles surmounted by (2) eight triangles each 

 formed of three pairs of spicules arranged " en chevron " ; between these there 

 are also a number of spicules which form a transition stage from the horizontal 

 collar to the almost vertical " points ". 



The colour of the colony is creamy white. 



Locality : off Cape Comorin. 



E. Two damaged specimens of a pale brown colour, the larger of which is 

 140 mm. in height, the smaller 105 mm. The trunk is not markedly cylindrical 

 but rather angular and bearing numerous ridges and furrows. It is distinctly 

 flattened on the ventral surface. This specimen approaches in general build to 

 Hickson's .S'. ramofni. There are numerous " belts " or tunnels ; one of these is 

 30 mm. long and 19 mm. high. Small secondary branches arise both from the 

 margins of these and the tubular structures on the main stalk. The polyps are 

 large and distinct and are scattered irregularly over the colony. They arise (1) 

 singly on the main stalk ; (2) on branches from the main stalk ; (3) irregularly 

 on the expansions, and (4) on the branches which spring from these belts. 



The verrucas are dome-like and about 1 mm. in height. The anthocodial 

 armature is similar to that in D. 

 Locality : Andamans. 



F. A magnificent colony of a cream-white colour, 165 mm. in height. The 

 trunk is 56 mm. long and is expanded at the base ; it has evidently been 

 embedded in sand. The whole of the stalk is tubular, and several " belts " occur 

 though not so marked as in some of the other specimens. 



The secondary branches and even the tertiaries are extremely long and 

 have a gutter-like structure. 



The polyps occur indefinitely and are moderately large. They arise in a 

 single row mainly on the lateral surfaces of the branches but also sparsely on 

 the surface of the " belts ". 



Locality : Persian Gulf, 48-49 fathoms. 



G. In the Wood-Mason Collection are a number of detached fragments 

 evidently secondary branches of a colony similar to F. The verructe, however, 

 are extremely lai-ge and are closely packed on the margins of the branches 

 though displacement due to crowding in some parts gives the appearance of a 

 double row. Their size is so pronounced as to give a serrated appearance to the 

 margins of the twigs. When partially retracted the anthocodite sit dome-like 

 on the top of the conical veri'ucfe. 



Previously recorded from the Maldives and Australia. 



