217 



this feature is very prominent. The details of branching, spiculation, etc., are 

 essentially the same as in the more typical specimen. One colony is quite 

 covered l)y a sponge -like growth. 

 Locality : Andamans. 



Echinogorgia intermedia, Studer. 

 Plato IV. tigs. 1 and 11 ; Plate VIIL fig 5. 



Studer's description of this species is very short, but our specimens corre- 

 spond with it closely. 



Three small colonies of a dark red colour, the largest of which is 75 mm. in 

 height and .iO mm. in maximum diameter. The branching is in one plane 

 and anastomosis is not infrequent. The branches arise indefinitely and at vary- 

 ing angles. 



The axis is horny, flexible and of a brownish-black colour. In the young 

 twigs it is soft, collapsible and cliambered. 



The coenenchyma is moderately thick and densely covered with small 

 irregular spicules which interlock unequally and so give a si)iny and glistening 

 appearance to the surface. Irregularly scattered over this uniform layer and 

 occurring at the base of the verrucas are large scaledike spicules which give a 

 characteristic appearance to the colony, but this feature is more prominent in 

 some places than in others. 



The polyps occur all round the circumference and seem to be in irregular 

 spirals. The ends of the twigs are generally occupied by three divergent polyps 

 between which there arises a small knob consisting of the end of the axis covered 

 with coenenchyma. The verructe are somewhat conical in shape, but some show 

 a gentle curvature upwards and so appear dome-like, while others are constricted 

 at the base. The spicules on the verrucse have projecting points which diverge 

 upwards and outwards and so present a spinose armature. The anthocodiae 

 are small and elongated. When partially withdrawn the tentacles are infolded 

 and form a hemispherical Ivuob. There is a distinct tentacular operculum con- 

 sisting of a collaret of one to three (generally two) rows of curved spindles and 

 eight points, each composed of two club-shaped spicules markedly bent near the 

 base and touching on their convex sides. Occasionally in the small triangle thus 

 formed there occurs a small spindle. 



The spicules are almost crimson-red in colour and are very much branched 

 and microtuberculate. The following are some of the more prominent types 

 with measurements length and breadth in millimetres : — 



{(i) Massive scale-like forms covered with minute warts, O'S x 0-3 ; 05 x 025 ; 



0-4 X 0-3. 

 28 



