• 39 



Spicules. Heavy, very warty spindles predominate, which are occasionally flattened 

 and broadened until they become oblong disks. The spindles which are on the caly.x margin 

 are less tuberculate than the others, but there are none of the Echhiomtiricea type. The spindles 

 of the stem are longitudinally disposed ; but the two layers are not well differentiated. 



Color. The colony is grayish, the axis dark brown, and the spicules colorless. 



This species resembles superficially an Echinoiiatricea, but the spicules are quite different. 



5. Versbiysia opcrculata new species. (Plate VI, figs. 2, 2a). 



Stat. 220. Anchorage oft" Pasir Pandjang, west coast of Binongka. 55 meters, close to reef. 



Colony slender, flabellate in form, 16.5 cm. high and about 7 cm. in diameter. The 

 main stem is sinuous, with the first branch origin 2.4 cm. above its base, and another large 

 branch is given off 2.6 cm. above the first. The colony is denuded of calyces throughout its 

 proximal half. The distal portion gives off a number of subalternate branches, the average 

 distance between them being about 6 mm. Some of these branches again divide, but branchings 

 of the third order are not seen. The calyces are irregularly distributed over all sides of the 

 colony, the distance between them varying from i to 2 mm. There are no terminal polyps. 



The individual calyces are subcylindrical in form, sometimes taking the form of trun- 

 cated cones, usually projecting at a right angle from the branch. On the distal parts of the 

 terminal branches, however, they incline toward the twig terminations. They are only about 

 .75 mm. in height to the very prominent operculum, and have a diameter of 1.5 mm. The 

 calycular walls are beset with spindles which are exceedingly irregular in arrangement, some- 

 times being horizontal, but usually vertical in position, with all gradations between. There is a 

 tendency, however, for the proximal parts of the wall to have the spicules arranged horizon- 

 tally, and the distal parts to have the spicules vertically placed. The crown of points around 

 the margin is sometimes prominent and sometimes scarcely evident. The polyps are only par- 

 tially retractile. The operculum is a high dome, sometimes exceeding the calyx in height, and 

 has relatively heavy spindles which lie in longitudinal bundles along the dorsum of the tentacles. 

 The coenenchyma is rather thin, but the spindles are spaced so that the inner layer of spindles 

 is often exposed. 



Spicules. These are all spindles, very warty, and the largest attain a length of 2 mm. 

 Color. The colony is light silvery brown or grayish. Axis dark brown. 



6. Vershiysia reticulata new species. (Plate VI, figs, i, \a\ Plate XX, fig. 4). 



Stat. 272. Anchorage off" Pulu Jedan, East coast of Aru Islands. 13 meters. Sand. 

 Stat. 310. 8°30'S., 1 19° 7'. 5 E. Flores Sea. 73 meters. Sand. 



Colony flabellata and reticulate, 11.9 cm. in height and with a spread of ii.i cm. 

 The first branch arises 1.7 cm. from the base of the colony, and a stub of a branch is seen 

 almost opposite it. .9 cm. above this arise another pair, one being a short stub and the other 

 a large branch. Another large branch arises 3 mm. above the last. Distal to this the mam 



