267 



(a) Doiil)le-clubs with smooth warts : — 



0-05 X 0-04 ; constriction, 0-02 broad x 0-008 long. 

 0-04S X 004 ; „ 0-02 „ x 0-005 „ 



(fi) Doul)le-chiI).s with fewer and more irregular warts : — 

 0-0(3 X 0-04 ; constriction, 0-0:J l)road x O'Ol long. 

 0-048 X 0-0:35 ; „ 002 „ xO-012 „ 



{(■) Spindles with round warts and having a smooth part in the middle ; — 



009 x 0-025 ; smooth part, 0-02 

 0-085 X 0-028 ; „ „ 0-018 



(rf) Minute crosses with a very distinct x-shaped marking, 0-04 x 0-04. 

 ((') Minute irregular crosses, elongated along one diagonal, with distinct 

 x-shaped marking, 005 x 0-03. 



Those of the tentacles are short warty rods, 005 x 0015 ; 006 x 0015. 

 Localities : Persian Gulf, 48-49 fathoms ; Laccadives, 30-50 fathoms. 

 Another portion of a colony in the Wood-Mason Collection must also be 

 referred to this species in the meantime. It is 95 mm. in height and 35 mm. 

 in breadth. The colour of the ccenenchyma is almost vermilion-red but in the 

 twigs it fades away until it is creamy-white. The verrucas are distinct and 

 dome-like — a feature of little importance. The spicular characters are like 

 the above. 



Nicella pustulosa/ n. sp. 

 Plate V. fig. 6 ; Plate VIII. fig. 11. 



A small colony of a brownish-yellow colour, 80 mm. in height and 40 mm. 

 in breadth, branched, though not exclusively, in one plane. The branching is 

 irregular but in some places it is sub-alternate. The branches arise almost 

 perpendicularly, but after a sweeping curve turn upwards and run sub-parallel to 

 the main stem. The twigs terminate in a small knob on either side of which 

 there stands a diverging polyp. 



The ccenenchyma is moderately thick and presents a much sculptured and 

 ridged appearance, almost reticulate in the older portions {cf. Siihcrotjorgia 

 orudta, n. sp.). This feature is doubtless due in part to contraction and apj^ears 

 even in the verructe. The whole surface is glistening and arenaceous. 



1 It is with some hesitation tliat we refer this type to the genus NiccUa. It is a matter of no 

 small difficulty to distinguish betw^een Nicella, Gorgonella and Verrucella. Distinctions based on 

 spicules alone are very unsatisfactory in this group because the spiculation varies at different levels 

 and transition forms are so numerous and varied that it is sometimes almost impossible to distinguish 

 between double-spheres, double-stars and double-clubs, each in turn passing gradually to double- 

 spindles. In Verrucella, however, the axis is lamellar and there are double-stars ; in Gorgonella the 

 axis is lamellar and radially striated and double-spheres occur. Our specimens approach Nicella in 

 several respects though agreeing with none of the described species, and as the positive characters 

 of the other genera are absent, we feel justified in making a new species to include these forms. 



