822 SYDNEY J. HICKSON. 



Scirpearia furcata, n. sp. Figs. 8 and 9. 



Localities. S. Nilandu, 25 fathoms. W. passage of Atoll. 

 N. Male, 20 fathoms. W. across a passage. 



Two specimens were obtained from S. Nilandu. One was 90 mm. long x 1-5 mm. diameter, 

 the other 75 mm. x 4 mm. diameter. Both exhibit an orange-red coloured coenenchym with 

 dark-red dome-shaped verrucae, closely crowded but separated into two groups by broad spirally 

 directed bare tracks. The former more delicate specimen has a single branch which is bifur- 

 cated at its extremity. 



The spicules are principally warted spindles of a dark orange colour, Ol mm., a few paler 

 double clubs Ol mm., and double stars 0-75 mm. 



The specimen from N. Male is only a fragment. 



The species differs from 8. ochracea and S. flagellum in having less prominent verrucae, 

 in the size of the spicules, and more particularly in the character of branching which is 

 shown in one specimen. 



Scirpearia furcata, variety ? 



Locality. S. Nilandu, 24 fathoms. 



There is a long 200 mm. slightly branched specimen from this locality, which differs 

 somewhat from the type. It is more delicate in build and has less prominent verrucae, and 

 the colour is not such a pure red but tinged with orange. The spicules are of the same size 

 and variety, but there are in proportion more double clubs. 



Scirpearella indica, n. sp. Fig. 10. 

 Locality. S. Nilandu, 30 fathoms. W. passage of Atoll. 

 There are six pieces of this species in the bottle from this locality: 



A, a fragment 280 mm. long, white coenenchym with prominent verrucae, red at the apex. 



B, a complete specimen about 330 mm. long, verrucae not quite so prominent as in A. 



C, D, E, three pieces which probably represent one complete specimen 210 mm., 70 mm. 

 and 150 mm. in length respectively, 430 mm. in total length if they belong to the same colony. 



F, a specimen which was apparently broken off and has undergone repair, 220 mm. 

 long. 



The Colour of the specimens is remarkable : 



In A the coenenchym is white, but the pointed tips of the verrucae are red. 



In B the verrucae are white throughout, but there are streaks of pink running irregularly 

 along the coenenchym and uniting at the base to give the coenenchym a general pale-red 

 colour. The other specimens are entirely white. 



The only basal disc present is 12 mm. in diameter. 

 All the specimens are unbranched. 



The diameter of the specimens varies very little and is in all about 3^ — 4 mm. The 

 apex is blunt, the base enlarges abruptly to form the disc of attachment. 



