Manchester Memoir:' 



)l. Ixi. (iQi6), No. I. 



7 



are faint lines or grooves runnint^ oblicjucly longitudinally on 

 the surface of the ccenenchyme of ihe lower steins and branches. 

 The base is large and encrusting, and the first polyps occur 

 iSmm. from it. To some extent the main branches, with 

 branchlets, ascend m parallel planes to one another. The nodes 

 at the base are extremely prominent, one is 6 mm. in length 

 and 5 by 4 in diameter. Near the base the polyps are separated 

 by an interval of 1-3 mm. ; in the upper branches and twigs they 

 are practically in contact with one another. A polyp in which 

 the pinnules can be seen is 2-3 mm. in length, the anthocodia 

 I mm. The spicules of the polyps are arranged in eight longi 

 tudinal areas, witli a circular band at the base of these, then a 

 slight free space intervenes, and beneath the latter the spicules 

 of the calyx are prominently disposcxl over its surface. 



l',-xt-fig. I. Spicules of Melilodes Faurii^ sp. n., upper, from polyp; 

 lower, from ccenenchyme near base. 



The spicules and their dimensions in millimetres are as fol- 

 lows : — A. : Spicules from the ccenenchyme near the base of 

 the colony; (i) straight spindles (a few) with simple processes, 

 from 0.081 X 0.023 to 0.108 X 0.054; (2) curved spindles with 

 simple processes from 0.063 x 0.023 to 0.144 x 0.054; curved 

 spindles with larger processes on the outside of the curve, from 

 0.126 X 0.072 to 0.144 x 0.081 ; clubs with expanded processes, 

 from 0.072 X 0.063 to 0.144 X 0.081 ; clubs fa few) approaching 

 very closely to the foliaceous type, about 0.126 x 0.054; heads 

 which have lost or nearly lost the shaft, about 0.126 x 0.072. 

 B. : The spicules from the ccenenchyme of the central nodes. 

 (i) Straight spmdles, from 0.108 x 0.036 to 0.288 x 0.054; 

 curved spindles, from 0.18 x 0.036 to 0.270 x 0.036; spinous 

 clubs with exi)anded processes from 0.08 1 x 0.036 to 0.144 x 

 0.072; clubs very nearly foliaceous, about 0.144 x 0.072, and 

 a few heads and irregular spicules. C. : The spicules of the 



