57 



branches bear branchlets, all from their lower or outer sides. The calyces are very thickly 

 distributed on all sides of the branches, often being contiguous, and rarely being more than 

 1.5 mm. apart. The branch endings are often somewhat swollen, but there are no true 

 terminal polyps. 



The individual calyces are very low Verrucae, or exceedingly short cylinders not more 

 than .7 mm. in height and 1.5 mm. in diameter. They are often oval in section, their longer 

 diameter being parallel to the branch. The wide margin is beset with erect spines, or points 

 of spicules which have their foliaceous ba.ses embedded in the cccnenchyma of the calyx wall. 

 These occur in several apparently imbricating ranks in the upper portions of the walls, 

 becoming less prominent as they near the base. The polyps are entirely retractile, but the 

 calyces do not close over them. The operculum is horizontal and countersunk below the 

 margin, and is but feebly developed, being represented by a very few delicate spindles. 



Spicules. The spicules are small, the most characteristic being of the type of this 

 genus. They have long, thorny, comparatively smooth points, and rough, expanded, foliaceous 

 bases. There are also many crosses, triradiate forms, daggers, small Stachelplatten and irregularly 

 branched forms. 



Color. The colony is a light brown throughout, the axis very dark brown basally, 

 fading to yellowish distally. The spicules are colorless. 



General distribution. The type was secured near Ternate. 



The specimens of the Siboga collection here referred to this species agree but imper- 

 fectly with the original description of Germanos. The characteristic spicules however, agree 

 quite closely with his figure, and the specimens are referred to Echinoimiricca coronalis with 

 considerable doubt. 



*2. EchiuoniJiricae indo))ialaccensis Ridley. 



Echinoimiricea indonialaccensis Ridley. Zoological Collections of H. M. S. Alert, 1884, p. 386. 

 Echinoinuricea indomalaccensis Hedlund. Einige Muriceiden im Museum Upsala, 1890, p. 15. 

 Echinomnricea indomalaccensis Thomson and Henderson. Ceylon Pearl Oyster Report, the 

 Alcyonaria, 1905, p. 291. 



Pulu Missa near Flores, de Siso don. 



Colony flabellate and loosely reticulate, 34.5 cm. in height and 39.5 cm. in spread. 

 The main stem gives off a large branch immediately above its base, which bifurcates imme- 

 diately above its origin, its parts ultimately anastomosing with branches from the main stem 

 and with eachother. The main .stem gives off a few lateral branches, but lo-ses its identity 

 about I 2 cm. from its base. The main branches do not radiate symmetrically towards the edges 

 of the colony, but lose their identity towards the margin and give off numerous ultimate 

 twigs which are all lateral and often anastomose with eachother and with other branches, thus 

 forming a loose web. The ultimate twigs are swollen at their ends. The stem and larger 

 branches are laterally compressed, their larger diameter being 4 mm. and their smaller less 



SIROGA-EXPEDITIK XIII /'. ^ 



