193 



only one s})ino remained in the vertical position. Again, owing to the extremely 

 spinose character of the verrucas these suffer considerable damage by fracture 

 and detrition, in fat-t it is hardly possible to get a preserved specimen with any- 

 thing like a high percentage of perfect verruc;\!. 



The specimens from Funafuti, on which INtiss Hiles established the species 

 A. i^pi/iosa, (littered from ./. miirimta, Verrill, only'in the fact that in the former 

 there were eight projecting groups of two or three spicules while in the latter 

 there were eight single spicules. From a study of the large number of specimens 

 in this collection we feel that this subtle distinction cannot be considered valid, 

 and therefore suggest the merging of ./. ><piiiiwi into A. )niir}r<ita. Moreover, 

 the differences between ./. ii.yx'ra, Pourtales, and A. xpinom, Hiles, are so 

 very slight, that we think A. miiricatd should inchide the two others. 



We may give here a few macroscopic details which superficially would 

 seem to separate the specimens from the different localities; in the architecture 

 of the polyps, taking into account the modification due to contraction already 

 cited, all agree very well with the description given I^y Verrill and also with 

 that given by Miss Hiles for A. i^pinosd. 



A. Several very robust specimens, the largest of which is 110 mm. high 

 and 100 mm. broad, branched in one plane. The branching is so profuse that 

 many of the twigs seem to arise at right angles to the plane of ramification and 

 give the whole a bushy apj)earance. The ccenenchyma is fiiirly thick and the 

 verruc?e are crowded over the whole of the stem and branches, touching basally ; 

 all stages of growth are intermingled with the more mature forms, which are 

 about 3 mm. high and 1-25 mm. in diameter. The axis is thin, horny, 

 flexible and spirally twisted in the older portions. Colour — pale chocolate- 

 brown. 



B. Typical colony 55 mm. high and 45 mm. broad. Ccenenchyma thick 

 and very rugose. Verrucre occur all round but are more crowded towards the 

 tips of the twigs. They are short and thick, about 2 '25 mm. in height and 

 1-25 mm. in breadth. Colour — chocolate-brown. 



C. Colony 55 nun. in height and 45 mm. in breadth, laxly branched in one 

 plane ; verructe arise all round but at considerable intervals, except in the twigs 

 where they are crowded. Ca-nenchyma thin and transparent, almost yellow 

 in colour. 



D. Laxly branched in one plane ; branches slender ; ccenenchyma thin, 

 brown in colour ; verruca; occur on all parts, scattered, 3 mm. high, 1 mm. in 

 diameter at base, and 1-25 mm. in diameter at apex. 



E. Numerous specimens very like I) but with more crowded verrucse. 



F. A great number of specimens about (30 mm. high and 45 mm. in breadth ; 



ccenenchyma thin and not rugose ; verrucre — some cylindrical, others much 



expanded at apex ; the arrangement of the spicules on the verrucae varies 

 25 



