EEPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 195 



armed with pointed spines; size, 0'5 by 0"05 ; 0'25 by 0"04 mm. In the tentacles are 

 found bent spicules armed with sharp spines, measuring 0"2 by 0*04 mm. 



The canals in the stems and branches are wide and bounded by thin walls ; in the 

 more slender branches four main canals may be distinguished and in the terminal 

 spikes two. 



The colour of the stem is yellow, of the polyp heads greyish -white in spirit. 



Habitat. — Zebu Eeef, Philippine Islands. 



Spongodes nephthyasformis, u. sp. (PI. XXXVIa. figs, lo, lb). 



The barren upright stem gives off branches at various heights, which may again bear 

 lateral branches. AU these are divided at the end into small, short, conical twigs, which 

 are spike-like, and covered with little polyp heads. The latter are but sUghtly over- 

 topped by the fine bundle of spicules which they carry. 



The entire habit of the colony recalls much more that of Nephthya than that of 

 Spongodes, and this impression is strengthened by the slight development of the spicules 

 surmounting the little heads, whence the colony does not appear so prickly as other species. 



The species is most closely related to Sporigodes savignyi, Ehrenberg, but in that 

 species the little polyp heads and also the spicules are larger and more prominent. 

 The species must be referred to the genus Spongodes, because the polyps are placed 

 sideways within a bundle of spicules, although these only project slightly. The main 

 stem is 60 mm. high and 16 mm. thick at the base; it gives off" branches at different 

 heights, which measure 12 to 20 mm. in length, 6 to 8 mm. in diameter. In one 

 specimen there arise from a common basal expansion smaller branched additional stems 

 besides the main stem. Both stem and branches are divided at the end into a number 

 of spike-like twigs, covered with small polyp heads. These little spikes are obtusely 

 conical or lobose, and sometimes give off" small lateral spikelets. Their length reaches 

 5 to 8 mm., with a diameter of 3 mm. The polyp heads are small, having a maximum 

 size of 1 mm. 



Externally the stem and branches are tough and leathery ; they are thickly beset 

 with rough, spindle-shaped, calcareous spicules, which are closely packed and cross one 

 another, leaving no intervals. The spicules are often bent and covered with sharp spines. 

 Their length reaches 1"1 mm., with a thickness of 0'05 mm. 



The little polyp heads are supported by a bundle of broad spicules, which converge 

 A-like to the number of six to eight. Their points project beyond the head, which is 

 placed horizontally. They are slightly bent into the shape of a letter/ or straight, 

 and they bear sharp-pointed spines. They reach 1"48 mm. in length and 0"08 mm. in 

 breadth. At the base of the head lie spiny spindles, measuring 07 by 0'05 mm., which 

 are bent parallel to the supporting spicules. The remaining spicules of the head lie 



