354 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



32 millim., consists of a strongly flattened, rather undulating portion, 

 with a midrib 1 to 2 millim. thick running longitudinally down its 

 middle, on each side of which the edges are drawn out so as to 

 form a double-edged knife-like ending, with a maximum breadth of 

 7 millim. ; above, this is united to the hollowed, zooid-bearing part 

 by a cylindrical portion, 20 millim. long and 3 millim. in maximum 

 thickness, apparently solid. Only 10 millim. from the commence- 

 ment of the zooid-bearing part, a strong tubular branch is given off, 

 and another on the same side only 4 millim. further up the ter- 

 minal tube, which is considerably bent to one side, and constitutes 

 with the last mentioned branch a true bifurcation, which thus takes 

 place at only 14 millim. from the commencement of the functionally 

 active section of the colony. 



The colony is thus manifestly young, for the stem is 65 millim. 

 long, while the zooid-bearing part is only 40 millim. long and carries 

 near the end of each of its branches one or more narrow spatular 

 or grooved processes from 8 to 15 millim. in length, recalling those 

 which attain so great a development (up to 10 centim. long, Studer) 

 in S. grayi, Studer, and in S. (Solenogorgia) tubulosa, Genth. The 

 maximum antero-posterior diameter of the tubular part of the colony 

 is only 8 millim. The verrucas form a single row on each side of 

 the tubes and spatulate processes. The colour differs from that of 

 the type specimen of the species in being a dull pale orange, with 

 dark purplish verrucas, whereas in that specimen it is for the most 

 part (in its present dry condition) a dull umber-brown with a tint 

 of red, with a reddish lateral band including the verrucas. The 

 length of the spatulate processes does not appear to me sufficient to 

 show any close connection with S. grayi ; and as the spicules agree 

 essentially with those of the type of S. tortuosum, I retain that name 

 for this specimen as well. 



As Studcv's account of the spiculation of the species appears 

 erroneous in some points, I give herewith the results of an exam- 

 ination of the type specimen. Cortical spicules : — (i.) Clavate or 

 excentrically fusiform, covered with coarse, prominent, cylindrical 

 tubercles, often roughened terminally ; size of spicule *21 to -39 by 

 •06 to -12. (ii.) Superficial, short, broad, cylindrical, with about 3 

 rude whorls of very prominent ragged tubercles : size of spicule about 

 •14 by *07 millim. [this spicule is not figured by Studer for the species, 

 but a very similar form is given by him as the axial spicule of S. grayi, 

 under which species is also figured one which differs from (ii.) mainly 

 in having simpler tubercles]. The white chalky axial mass consists 

 mainly, if not exclusively, of (iii.) long cylindricals with rounded 

 ends, bearing sharp-pointed tubercles at considerable intervals : size 

 of spicule about -38 by -035 millim. The external longitudinal 

 verrucas-spicules (iv.) are irregularly fusiform or cylindrical, strongly 

 roughened by prominent closely-set tubercles, and measure about 

 •18 by *07 millim. ; towards the mouth of the verruca these pass 

 into irregular flattened or styliform bodies about *14 millim. long 

 by # 017 millim. broad, (v.) The horizontal spicules of the verrucas 

 are fusiform, tapering gracefully to rounded points, more or less 

 curved ; they bear numerous small, smooth, and rounded tubercles 



