224 



less club-shaped or truncated conical structures, the broader part of which is 

 directed outwards and beset with numerous warty protuberances. From the 

 base proceed five or six star-shaped, root-like processes bearing sim})le or 

 branched prolongations. Their height compared with their maximum J^readth 

 is 0"067 mm. to 0"065 mm. or 0"06 mm. to 0"054 mm. Sometimes the horizontal 

 prolongations are united into a plate or scale from which simple or branched 

 processes proceed ; this secures a large flat expansion whilst the club itself is 

 shortened and finally is reduced to several slight projections in the centre of the 

 plate. A line of division separating these spicules into halves is clearly dis- 

 tinguishable. Such plates have a diameter of 0'09(j mm. to 015 mm. In the 

 deeper layers are elongated spicules which at times incline to the form of the 

 spicules of the cortex. They are elongated, club-shaped bodies with jagged 

 spines, or spindle-shaped, straight or curved with sharply pointed spines. 

 Dimensions, Ov? mm. x O'Ol mm." 



Locality : Aiafura Sea, 49 fathoms. 



B. studerl, Whitelegge, " Alcyonaria of Funafuti," Part 2 ; "Mem. Aus. 

 Mus.," III., Part 5, 1897. Plate XVII. figs. 21-25. 



" The coenenchyma of the stem and walls of the polyps is densely coated 

 with an external layer of minute spicules which viewed as opaque objects under 

 the microscope present an irregular lenticular appearance ; when seen by 

 transmitted light they reveal a very narrow smooth central constriction, an 

 upper round disc, minutely granulose and somewhat opaque, a lower irregular 

 tuberculate disc, quite translucent and frequently larger than the upper. The 

 granular discs of these modified double-clubs are directed outwards and form a 

 fairly uniform crust over the whole colony. Situated beneath this external 

 layer are numerous larger spicules having a broad multilobate disc and a very short 

 central boss surmounted by two or more tuljercles. These spicules exhibit a 

 distinct central line of union and the boss-like end is directed outwards. The 

 polyps are provided with a collar of curved spicules ; on the lower dorsal surface 

 of each tentacle are three curved spicules, a short one placed transversely with 

 the convex side directed towards the summit and two placed longitudinally 

 with their convex sides turned inwards. Embedded in the apices of the tentacles 

 are a few short curved spicules with stx'ong dentate processes on the convex 

 side. 



" (1) The cortical spicules are rarely longer thanbroad, 0035 mm x (J-Oo mm. ; 

 0-04 mm. x 0035 mm. 



" (2) Deep-seated, broad, star-shaped, the rays and disc being studded with 

 warty tubercles. Diameter of disc from -05 mm. to 0'2 mm., those measuring 

 about 015 mm. being the most common. The height is from 0"03 mm. to Ol 

 mm. 



