496 SYDNEY J. HICKSON. 



B. A dried specimen rather broken, but of approximately the same size and form 



of growth as A. Pale cream colour. Suvadiva, 37 fathoms. Near a passage. 

 Hard sand. 



C. A specimen about 170 mm. in height with axis di\'ided into two main branches 



(Fig. 13). Stalk 60 mm., bifid at base. There are few narrow grooved 

 branchlets. Colour, orange-brown. Suvadiva, 38 fathoms. In a passage. 

 Rubble bottom. 



D. Two fragments, with rather longer grooved branchlets than in A. Colour, a 



rich pink, darker in tone than A. Fadifolu, off W. side, 22 fathoms. Weed, 

 sand, and small coral. 



E. A specimen in fragments. It was probably twice as large as A when complete. 



In this there are several long, deeply grooved branchlets over 15 mm. in 

 length. The parts that form complete tubes are very restricted in extent. 

 Dull pale brown in colour. Mulaku, 22 fathoms. Weed and sand. 



F. Another somewhat smaller specimen, with several very long almost flattened 



branchlets. None of the branches among these fragments show the com- 

 pletely tubular condition. Colour, dull pink. Mulaku, 32 fathoms. Mud, 

 weed, and sponges. 



G. A specimen also in fragments, with several fairly long grooved branchlets, but 



freely tubular on the branches. The colour varies from dull pink to dull 

 pinkish brown. S. Male, 28 fathoms. Hard white sand. 



H. A complete specimen. About 180 ram. in length, with a very long stalk broken 

 at the extremity and a divided axis as in C (Fig. 13). Very few long 

 grooved branchlets. Freely tubular. Colour, pinkish brown. Stalk fading to 

 white at base. S. Nilandu, 25 fathoms. W. of atoll. 



K. The largest specimen in the collection, but very much broken. The stalk is 

 relatively short. The axis and primary branches form complete tubes through- 

 out nearly the whole of their extent, but there are some large projecting 

 flattened or grooved branchlets 80 mm. and more in length. The colour is 

 brown. N. Male, 27 fathoms. N. of atoll. Broken shells. 



L. A small fragment of the same general character as K, but rather more pink 

 in colour. N. Male, 28 fathoms. Near shoal, W. centre. Sand. 



M. A very small fragment of same general characters as K, but bright orange in 

 colour. Mahlos Atoll, 23 fathoms. Passage. N.E. lagoon. 



In this series of specimens from the same group of islands we have a series of links 

 connecting together the well-known and well-described species belonging to the genus. The 

 careful examination of the specimens A, B, and C from Suvadiva, and a comparison of the 

 spicules and tentacles, sections of the stalk and axis with the description given by Genth 

 convinced me that these specimens belong to the species jS. tubulosum. 



A comparison however of specimens G and K with the tj'pe specimens of S. tortuosum in 

 the British Museum exhibited no differences either in general mode of growth or spiculation 

 that would justify a separation of them from the original species. 



