274 



Localities : (1) Off Ganjam Coast, 10 fathoms ; (2) Puri, 10 fathoms, Eocky 

 Bank ; (3) S.W. Cape Comorin, 2-3 miles, 38 fathoms. 



Previously recorded from Mergui (Ridley), probably Bay of Bengal (Esper). 



Gorgonelia granulata, Esper. 

 = Gorgonia granulata, Esper. Plate VIII. fig. 9. 



There is not much positive content in Esper's original description of this 

 species, e.g., " fulvescent cortex with granular pores, some nearly hemispherical 

 others alnrost concealed," but as there is a strong resemblance between our 

 specimen and Esper's figure of G. granulata, we have resuscitated the latter, 

 amplifying the original description by including details of spiculation, etc. 



A small much-damaged colony of a yellowish-brown colour, 70 mm. in 

 height and 40 mm. in lireadth. The branching is in one plane and no hint of 

 anastomosis is to be seen. The whole colony is stiflf' and rigid, and the majority 

 of the branches come off almost perpendicularly. The diameter of the main 

 stem is 3 mm., and throughout the colony the diameter of the branches varies 

 only very slightly, except near the tips where they are conical. 



The axis is densely calcareous and very hard ; it is made up of concentric 

 laminie and is radially striated. In the older portions it has an olive-green 

 tint, passing through a pale brown in the branches to almost white in the twigs. 



The coenenchyma is moderately thick and consists of two to three layers of 

 spicules. The surface is very even and is glistening and arenaceous in appearance. 

 In several places cirripede galls occur, but these are quite overgrown by polyp- 

 bearing ccenenchyma. 



The i)oly})s are scattered irregularly over the whole colony. There are 

 very small verructc which hardly project beyond the surface of the coenenchyma 

 but give it a slightly undulating contour. 



The spicules are typical of the genus except that the double-spheres are 

 not much in evidence and merge insensibly into double-club.s. The following 

 are the more important types with measurements length by breadth in milli- 

 metres : — 



{a) Double-spheres, 0-07 x 0-04 ; 0-06 x 0-03. 



{h) Double-clubs with very irregularly warted ends and a short constric- 

 tion, 007 X 004— constriction 002 ; 0-06 x 0-04— constriction 002. 



('') Double-clubs with a warty projection at each end and a single whorl 

 of warts on either side of the constriction, 0-06 x 0-04 ; 0-06 x 0035. 



{d) Double-spindles, markedly tapering and very warty, O'OS x 0*03 — con- 

 striction 02. 



{e) Warty spindles, 0-0(3 x 02 ; 005 x 0-015. 



Locality : Andamans. 



