167 



Locality : Andamans. 



Belonging to this species there is another colony from the Andamans 

 100 mm. in height and 90 mm. in maxinuun breadth. It is l^ranched in one 

 plane and anastomoses to form an irregular mesh-work. The main stem, which 

 is 3 mm. in diameter at the base, is only -i mm. in length. At this level it gives 

 off two large branches almost at right angles, and these after a wide curve 

 ascend sub-parallel to the main stem. This mode of branching is again repeated, 

 the continuation of the main stem being quite insignificant and fusing after a 

 short distance. The smaller twigs from two almost parallel branches fuse and 

 so form almost rectangular meshes. Towards the outside of the colony the 

 smaller twigs are more sinuous and irregular. 



The co3nenchyma presents the characteristic sculptured appearance and 

 this feature may be detected with the naked eye as a finely granular structure. 

 The polyps occur all round the branches and twigs and appear as raised, dark 

 dots. 



Locality : Andamans. 



In one specimen from the Laccadives the sculpturing is not so pronounced 

 but otherwise the details are essentially the same, e.g., anastomosis, spiculation, 

 etc. 



Locality : Laccadives. 



GENUS KEROEIDES, Wright and Studer. 

 Keroeides koreni, Wright and Studer. 



Specimens of this species are present in the collection from widely separated 

 localities, viz., Laccadive Islands and Andaman Islands. The only marked 

 difference between them is dimensional. 



{ii) The Andaman specimens consist of fragments which are very robust 

 and of a dark vermilion-red. They are much broken, the largest measuring 30 

 mm. X 30 mm. and 40 mm. x 15 mm. The stem is about 4 mm. in diameter, the 

 axis 2 mm. In structure the polyps agree with those described by Whitelegge, 

 for K. gracilis, Whitelegge, but the largest attain a height of only 2 mm. The 

 branching is irregular ; the branches enclose various angles with the stem and 

 are markedly sinuous. The measurements of the spicules coincide with those 

 given by Wright and Studer. It should be noted that the disposition and size 

 of the coenenchyma spicules differ considerably in different parts of the colony. 



Locality : Andamans, off Rutland Island, 35 fathoms. 



{h) The Laccadive specimen is of a bright vermilion-red colour and is com- 

 plete. It is 40 mm. in height and 30 mm. in maximum breadth ; it arises from 

 a spreading base and branches in one plane. The main stem is 9 mm. high and 

 2 mm. in diameter and gives origin to three arc-like branches, averaging about 



