28 MISS RUTH M. HARRISON ON NEW ALCTONARIA 



Spongodes elegans, sp. n. (PI. 3. fig. 2 ; PI. 4. figs. 26, 27 ; PI. 5. figs. 36, 37.) 



Belonging to the Divaricate cervicornis group of Kiikenthal. Length 10 cm., breadth 

 6 cm., sterile stalk 3'5 cm. Main stem divides into two branches, each of which divides 

 again into two, and these further subdivide into numerous twigs. Two lower branches 

 form a flattened collar nearly encircling the stem. Polyps on stalks of 1 mm. in 

 clusters of 4-8 ; one large spicule projects sometimes as much as 2 mm. Anthocodia 

 has 8 double rows of 4-6 spicules arranged en chevron, outermost larger and projecting 

 beyond bases of tentacles. Tentacles with double row of irregular colourless spicules. 

 Stem-spicules : straight or branched spindles, or definitely tri- or quadriradiate forms, 

 1-35 X 02 mm. or - 45x0-4 mm. from arm to arm. All covered with lare-e warty 

 projections. Branch-spicules: spindles only, of very varying size, 4 - 0x0 - 4 mm. to 

 0'2x005mm. Larger spicules with warty projections; these become less numerous 

 and prominent in the smaller forms. Spicules of the supporting bundle may reach 

 5-5x035 mm. Spicules of partition-walls : stem closely filled with spicules of quadri- 

 radiate type varying in size between 01x002 and - 4x0'3j mm. In the branch 

 partition-walls spicules are les3 numerous, of spindle type, 1-4x025 mm. ; also minute 

 spicules - lx0 - 02 mm., with forked extremities. 



Colour. Sterile stem a light brick-red; main branches white, shading gradually from 

 pink to red twigs. Polyps red, with white tentacles. 



Hub. Pay of Bengal. 



Spongodes rubescens, sp. n. (PL 3. fig. 1 ; PI. 4. figs. 28, 29 ; PL 5. figs. 30, 31.) 



Belonging to the Divaricate rigicla group of Kiikenthal. Length 8 cm., breadth 

 45 cm., sterile stalk 275 cm. Whole colony very firm and rigid. Main stem divided 

 into numerous short branches, which subdivide into smaller branches and twigs, 

 bearing polyps in groups of 2-8 at about right angles to branch. Lower branches 

 flattened: one encircling stem for about one-third of its circumference; others form 

 flattened plates with polyps borne all round the edge. One spicule projects beyond 

 polyp for about 1 mm. Spicules of anthocodia more or less iu 8 double rows, but 

 chevron arrangement not very distinct. Spicules project beyond base of tentacles. 

 Tentacles with double row of deep red spicules. Spicules of stem : curved spindles 

 covered with warty projections varying between 2-7 X 0*4 and OixOT mm. Branch- 

 spicules : variation greater, between 5 4X0-5 and 01x002 mm. Partition-walls: 

 spicules of two kinds, both scarce — (1) large warty spindles, and (2) very minute 

 thorny spicules, - lx002 mm.; in the stem the spindles vary between 1-75x0-3 

 and 0-1 x 0-02 mm., and in the branches between 30x0-5 and 0-1x0 02. 



Colour. Stem and main branches white ; secondary branches and twigs yellow ; below 

 the bunches of polyps the spicules show a red core and there is a gradual transition 

 from yellow to red. Polyps red. 



Hub. Bav of Bengal. 



Spongodes biformata, sp. n. (PL 3. fig. 5 ; PL 4. figs. 23, 21, & 25.) 



Belonging to the Divaricate cervicornis group of Kiikenthal. Length 3 2 cm., 



