forms beset with thorny points, and on the other with typical spindles with ordinary Verrucae 

 in regular whorls. A few true clubs are also seen, and an occasional branched spindle. Many 

 of the slender spindles are bent in an arc, and some are doublj- curved. 



Color. The colony is a light tan brown, the polyps differing but little from the 

 coenenchyma. 



General distribution. Type locality. Northwest Coast of Australia, 50 fathoms. 

 This species is also reported from the Indian Ocean. 



The writer finds himself unable to agree with the opinion expressed by Hickson, and 

 Thomson and Simpson that this species is identical with Solenocatilon tortuosum. The absence 

 of the Y-shaped spicules regarded by Thomson as characteristic of S. tortnoswii seems a good 

 specific character. The basal part of the stem in the type specimen was missing, hence the 

 oval spicules were not described by Gray. 



3. Sohnocaulon qtierciformis new species. (Plate I, fig. i, ia\ Plate XI, fig. i). 



Stat. 142. Anchorage oft" Laiwui, coast of Obi Major. 23 meters. Mud. (Young specimen). 

 Stat. 284. 8°43'.i S., i27°i6'.7E. 828 meters. Grey mud. (Type specimen). 



Colony dendritic in form, but somewhat flabellate, 23.5 cm. in length. A stem 14 cm. 

 long, found in the same bottle, appears to belong to the same specimen. If so, the colony was 

 37.5 cm. in length. The stem and all branches e.xcept the ends of the twigs are strongly 

 flattened, the larger branches being coarsely and deeply furrowed lengthwise, but in a slightly 

 spiral manner, these furrows being numerous and conspicuous. The stem measures 9.5 mm. 

 X 7 mm. in section. The first branch is short and flat and soon coalesces with a larger one 

 above it. A large branch is given oft" a little above the first and on the opposite side. This 

 is much flattened, distorted and furrowed, and gives off numerous, usually lateral branchlets 

 which are laterally expanded at their origins and are turtuous, like the branches of an oak 

 tree, and sometimes give off branchings of the third order. The main stem gives off two 

 other large branches which are greatly expanded laterally and also at the bases of the 

 branchlets, and bear a series of unequal grooves and furrows at the front and back. The 

 largest of these main branches is 9 mm. X 6 mm. in section near its base. After giving oft" 

 these main branches the stem pursues an undulating course, giving oft" irregular lateral branches 

 and breaking up at its distal end into a tuft of branchlets which re-divide until branchings of 

 the 5"^ order are attained, the whole forming a clump of aggregated branchlets. The ultimate 

 twigs are usually quite round in section, having a diameter of about 1.3 mm. The calyces 

 are confined mostly to the smaller branches and twigs where they are usuall)- lateral in position 

 and rather distant, being about 3 mm. apart on the average. 



The individual calyces are conical in form and vary greatly in size. A typical one 

 measures 1.5 mm. in height and about the same in diameter. They are often slightly inclined 

 toward the distal ends of the twigs. Their walls are filled with vertically disposed spindles. 

 The polyps seem to be but partiall)- retractile and most of them rest with their very heavy 



