PROM THE INDIAN AND PACIFIC OCEANS. 39 



Fam. Beiareid.e. 



Genus Solenocatjlon. 



Stiff Briareidae, branching chiefly in one plane, consisting of a solid cylindrical stalk 

 and tubular or grooved main stem, branches, and twigs. The ccenenchyme consists of an 

 outer bark containing loose spicules and an inner axis also containing loose spicules, but 

 in some places they may fuse to form a porous calcareous rod. Polyps may or may not 

 be retractile. 



Solenocatjlon TORTUOSUM (Gray). (PI. 3. figs. 14, 15 ; PL 7. figs. 66 to 77.) 



Three varieties. 



A. — Lower portion, 25 cm. in length, of a colony, of which 11 cm. is solid stalk bifid at 

 the end. Lateral branches short, coming off in pairs on opposite sides of lateral holes. 

 Polyps irregularly disposed on branches and main stem, but principally on the sides of 

 the branches and spirally up the stem ; non-retractile, projecting beyond conical calyx. 



Colour pale pink ; branches slightly deeper pink and stalk nearly colourless. 



B. — Two specimens, in both the upper part is broken off. One 21 cm. long, of which 

 10 cm. is solid stalk. Colony flesh-coloured. The other 15 cm. long, of which 45 cm. is 

 solid stalk. Lateral branches come off very regularly on alternate sides of the main 

 trunk; tubular at their commencement, each becoming two parallel branches facing 

 one another. Polyps non-retractile, but conical calices, not so much developed as in 

 specimen A ; borne on both sides of main trunk and branches. 



C. — Portion of a colony 14 cm. long, but unfortunately broken at both ends. Lateral 

 branches borne on opposite sides of lateral holes, and the lateral holes are exactly opposite 

 one another, so that a front view of the colony looks like the tail of a kite and a side view 

 shows a series of holes right through the main trunk. Polyps completely retractile, borne 

 at sides of main trunk and branches. 



Colour pink. 



In all three varieties the polyps are white. Spicules of the outer bark numerous, 

 small, and generally oval, entirely covered with large irregular warts. Length - 04 to 

 O'l mm. Spicules of inner bark slender, elongate, beset with few small spines, rather 

 more numerous at the ends. Length 01 to 04 mm. Spicules of axis similar to those 

 of inner bark in general appearance, but much longer. Length 0*18 to 0'78 mm. Axis- 

 spicules may fuse to form a porous calcareous rod in main trunk and branches. 



Hab. Bay of Bengal. 



Solenocatjlon ramostjm (Hickson). (PL 3. fig. 16; PL 7. figs. 78 to 81.) 

 Colony 85 cm. long, sterile stalk 30 cm. Colony consists of a single upright main 

 stem, from which arise six incomplete and three complete belts and numerous slender 

 twigs from these belts. The specimen agrees with Hickson's diagnosis in every point 

 except the greater size of the colony and the absence of all colouring-matter. 

 Hab. Bay of Bengal. 



