216 



is given off. This bears secondaries, one of which measures 12 cm., and a 

 tertiary 9 cm. in length. Other branches arise along the main stem, the longest 

 of which is 13"5 cm. These long slender branches are very characteristic of 

 the specimen. They give rise irregularly, however, to smaller branches which 

 sometimes anastomose. These arise generally at right angles and continue in 

 this direction for a short distance, eventually curving upwards and diverging 

 outwards in a sinuous manner. 



The lower part of the main stem is slightly damaged and is devoid of 

 coenenchyma, but on the branches and twigs it is thick and roughly beset 

 with foliaceous spicules. 



The polyps are scattered irregularly over the stem and branches, but not 

 very densely, being about 1 mm. apart. They are fairly prominent, cylindrical 

 when open, conical when contracted. The anthocodite are wholly retractile, 

 with a feebly developed operculum. This consists of eight triangles made up 

 of three spindles, two of which enclose an acute angle directed towards the 

 distal end of the tentacles, the third forming an incomplete base. A simple 

 collaret of three or four rows of curved spindles also occurs. Eight indistinct 

 teeth can be discerned on the i)eriphery of the expanded verructe. 



The horny axis is of a black colour near the base, but fades to a pale 

 yellow in the smaller twigs. For the first 2 cm. it is flattened in the plane of 

 ramification, being elliptical in section, the two main axes measuring 0-45 cm. 

 and 0"2 cm. respectively. Beyond this both on the main stem and on the 

 branches the flattening takes place in the plane perpendicular to that of 

 ramification. 



The following are some of the types of spicules with measurements in 

 millimetres : — 



{a) Large thick spindles, 0-6 x 0-2 ; O'S x 0-22. 



(b) Three or four warty prominences from which a dentate foliaceous ex- 

 pansion arises, 0"'32 x 0-2 ; 035 x 0'22. 



(r) Irregularly branched discs, smooth or finely warty, 0'25 x 0-25 ; 0-3 x 

 0-25. 



(d) Smaller warty spindles, 0'2S x (){)4. 



(e) Club-like, very warty with .slightly branched base, 0V> x 1 ; 0"35 x 012. 

 (/) Spindles with folia on the convex side, 0-25 x 0-12 ; 0-2 x O'l. 



iff) Spindles of the anthocodiiie : spiny, especially on convex side, 3 x 03 ; 

 0-28 X 0-03 ; 0-35 x 004. 



Locality : Persian Gulf, 48-49 fathoms. 



Three colonies from the Andamans are also referable to this species. The 

 following are their measurements in centimetres, length and breadth respect- 

 ively : 150 X 90, 100 X 50 and 90 x 80. One is of a dark brown colour, while the 

 others are much paler. The former shows slight anastomosis, but in the latter 



