14 



irregularly distributed on all sides of the colony, being somewhat more numerous on the sides 

 of the stem and branches and most closely aggregated on the club-like branch terminations. 

 They varj^ from 3.3 mm. to 7 mm. from summit to summit. 



The individual calyces are low but evident verrucce varying greatly in size. A typical" 

 one measures 1.3 mm. in height and 3.5 mm. in diameter. There are eight sharply defined 

 marginal lobes which close over the retracted polyps, the slit-like spaces between the lobes 

 forming an eight-rayed star. The walls of the calyces, like the general coenenchyma, are filled 

 with oval, densely tuberculate spicules. The polyps are completely retractile and the dorsal 

 surfaces of the tentacles are completely encrusted with oval, very tuberculate spicules. 



A transverse section of a branch shows a comparatively thin coenenchyma in which is 

 a very regular series of many water-vascular canals. The axis is spongy in texture and filled 

 with a felted mass of rather long, slender, rod-like or needle-like spindles with their surfaces 

 ornamented with rather distant thorny points. The axis is penetrated with numerous canals 

 of various sizes. 



Spicules. The spicules are of two main types, i^' the rod-like thorny spindles of the 

 axis. These are not so delicate as in Soleiiocatilon, and the thorns are comparatively larger. 

 Many are spindle-shaped rather than rod-like. The second type is a minute, oval, sometimes 

 round spicule with very prominent Verrucae which are usually arranged in symmetrical whorls 

 and also cap the ends. Commonly there are two such whorls and two caps. Nearly all of the 

 spicules are one or the other of these two types, or easily recognizable modifications of them. 



Color. The specimen is creamy white throughout. 



General distribution. Type locality. North of Three Kings Islands, North of New 

 Zealand, 90 fathoms. 



2. } Suberia excavata new species. (Plate III, figs. 2, 2«; Plate XI, fig. 4). 

 Stat. 142. Anchorage oft" Laiwui, coast of Obi Major. 23 meters. Mud. 



Specimens in a very fragmentary condition. The one described is a part of a branch 

 3.9 cm. long and with a diameter of 8 mm. approximately round in section. The surface is 

 almost covered with papilliform calyces resembling those of Emiicea. 



The individual calyces are club-shaped, pointed obliquely upward and outward, averaging 

 about 3.5 mm. long and 1.8 mm. in diameter near the distal end. They are adnate to the 

 branch throughout their length and their margins terminate is 8 not very conspicuous lobes 

 which are tightly closed over the retracted polyps. The calyx walls are filled with regular 

 spindles disposed longitudinally. The polyps are entirely retractile and appear to be devoid 

 of spicules. 



A cross section of a branch shows a rather thin coenenchyma and an axis cylinder 

 composed of purple and deep violet spicules embedded in a horny matrix. The axis is hollow 

 throughout the length of all of the fragments, having a tunnel apparently made by a small 

 bivalve mollusk, one of which was found in .situ. The tunnel is not round, but flat, to fit the 

 mollusk, and the greater part of the axis has been absorbed or in some manner removed. 



