173 



(a) Warty spindles, 0"2 x 0-02 ; 0-18 x 0-02. 



{/)) Club-shaped, 0-25 x 0-03 ; 0-2 x 0-04. 



(r) Somewhat spherical, 0'05 x O'Oo. 



VerruCte — these are red in colour : — 



{>i) Very warty spindles, 018 x 0-04 ; 0-15 x 0-02. 



(/>) One-sided warty spindles, 018 x 002 ; 02 x 0-03. 



Anthocodia^ : (u) "Crown and points" — red slightly spiny curved spindles, 



0-22 X 001 ; 0-2 x 001. 

 (A) Tentacles— colouHess rods, 0-06 x 0-02 ; 0-065 x 0-02. 



This species in some respects approaches M. albitinrta, Ridley, and M. 

 sulphnrea, Germanos, but the following essential diflferences may be noted. 

 It differs from M. albitmcM in that (1) there is no dimorphism ; (2) the colour 

 scheme is different ; (3) the verructe are differently distributed. If Ridley's 

 interpretation of the nature of the polyps is correct M. nUdtincta is suffici- 

 ently distinct from M. phU'ippinemh. In contrast to M. .^ulphurea (1) the 

 polyps are more crowded ; (2) the verrucai are less prominent ; (3) there is no 

 hint of green s})icules ; (4) the distribution of the verrucse is different ; (5) the 

 colour scheme is reversed ; (6) the spicules are more numerous ; they bear 

 sharper warts and there are numerous slender bent spindles. After a careful 

 comparison of our specimen with the type specimen of M. sidphnyed in the 

 British Museum we have decided that the two are distinct. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Previously recorded from Philippines. 



Melitodes ornata, n. sp. 

 Plate V. tigs. 3 and 9 ; Plate IX. fig. 11. 



A large but slightly broken colony of exquisite colouring represents this 

 species. When complete it could not have measured less than 240 mm. in 

 height and 100 mm. in breadth. 



Apart from the origin of a few of the lowest branches from the main stem, 

 the whole colony is dichotomously branched, and nowhere is there any trace of 

 anastomosis. The stem near the base is 5 mm. in diameter, but the successive 

 branches gradually diminish in size so that the twigs measure only 1-25 mm. 

 The branching may be described as an unequal dichotomy ; the branches arise 

 from the nodes and enclose an angle of about 30° ; one branch is slightly more 

 slender than the other and diverges at a somewhat greater angle from the 

 perpendicular. 



The axis near the base is very rough, owing to short deep furrows which 

 extend longitudinally and are discontinuous. These show markedly its com- 

 posite structure. Towards the tips of the branches this character is not so 

 prominent, but a glistening sheen is produced by reflected light on the project- 



