303 



(h) Axis longer, spindle-shai)ed, lying at boun- 

 dary of stalk and club or passing half- 

 way up the club C. liltkenii, Kcilliker.' 



{r) Axis spindle-shaped, occupying lower half 



of club and passing into the stalk . C. ortentalh, n. sp. 



{(1) Axis quadrangular, occupying the whole 



length of the club C. andummiemis, n. sj). 



Cavernularia elegans, Herklots. 



Numerous specimens of this species occur in the collection from various 

 localities. They all present the general features which characterise the species, 

 but differ from them and from one another in certain respects, e.(j. (1) relative 

 length and breadth of the polyp-bearing portion and the stalk ; (2) the relative 

 proportions of the polyp-bearing region of the several colonies ; (3) the distance 

 between the polyps and the size of the polyps, and (4) colour. The s})iculation 

 is also a matter of some difficulty, the i-ange of variation both in the shapes of 

 spicules and in their dimensions being perhaps greater than in any other species 

 we have examined. The following localities are here represented : Orissa 

 Coast ; Sandheads (A. Milner and J. Barnet) ; Tavoy ; Karachi ; Chilka Bight, 

 Orissa Coast (J. H. Eow). Not only do the specimens differ from the various 

 localities, but there are also marked differences among the specimens from the 

 same locality. 



Previously recorded from Japan. 



Great variability as to size and number of polyps, arrangement of siphono- 

 zooids and spiculation. 



Cavernularia obesa, Valenciennes. 



In the collection there are a number of specimens which exhibit certain 

 differences in detail, but which we include in the above very variable species. 

 The following are the measurements of some of the colonies : — 



Total length of colony 



Length of trunk .... 



Breadth of trunk 



Length of stalk 



Breadth of stalk ... 



The nature of the canals and partitions agrees closely with the descrijjtion 

 given by Kolliker. In the interior of the stalk there are abundant needles, but 

 there is no trace of an axis. The retracted polyps appear in some as minute 

 specks, while in others they are present as small circles 1 mm. in diameter, in 



1 Including G. habereri, Moroff. 



