264 



The colour is a light brown with dark parts around the polyps due to the 

 thinness of the spicular covering. 



The coenenchyma is thin near the base but thick in the smaller twigs, 

 eventually producing swellings at the tips. It is densely packed with warty 

 spicules. The longitudinal nutrient canals are evident on dissection, their walls 

 bear longitudinally arranged very minute spindles. 



The polyps are scattered over the whole surface and appear as dark pits, 

 being sunk within the coenenchyma when retracted. The verruca-opening is 

 elongated in the direction of the axis, measuring 125 mm. in length and 05 

 nun. in breadth. They are separated by distances of about 0'5 mm. and give 

 the surface a markedly pitted appearance. The anthocodiae are wholly re- 

 tractile. When the tentacles are infolded they form an eight-rayed, star-like, 

 almost horizontal tentacular oi^erculum which becomes hidden by the closing 

 of the verrucfe. 



The axis is horny and fibrous. It is of a bright golden colour with darker 

 streaks due partly to the fibrous structure and partly to the refraction of light. 



It is very flexible and has a soft, pulpy, white core. It measures 2 '5 mm. 

 at the base and diminishes gradually to a hair-like fineness at the tip. 



The spicules j^resent the following types with measurements in milli- 

 metres : — 



(a) Spindles, thick, markedly tapering and densely covered with tuber- 

 culate warts, 0-3 x 0-075 ; 0-25 x 0-05 ; 0-2 x 0-04. 



{/)) Spindles with warts in four or five whorls and warted ends, 0"2 x 0025 ; 

 015 X 002. 



{(■) Thick densely warted spindles with blunt ends, 0-12 x 0'05 ; 0'175 x 

 0-075 ; 0-1 X 0075 ; 02 x 0075. 



(d) Spindles irregularly covered with warts, 0-15 x O'OS ; 0-175 x 0-02. 



(r) Quadri-radiate forms with a distinctly x-shaped marking, 0-12 x 0-12 ; 

 01 xOl. 



(./■) Quadri-radiate forms with arms at right angles — with a distinct cross, 

 0-15 X 0-075; 015 x 0065. 



(//) The spindles of the anthocodi;Te are spiny spindles, 0-1 x 0-01 ; 0-12 x 

 001 ; 0-15 X 001. 



Locality ; Andamans (G. H. Booley). 



Family Gorgonidm. 



GENUS LOPHOGORGIA, Milne-Edwards. 



Lophogorgia lutkeni, Wright and Studer. 



Belonging to this species there is in the collection a beautiful almost brick- 

 red specimen, incomplete at the base, 170 mm. in height and 110 mm. in breadth. 



