ALCYONARIA. 277 



in colour, which measure from 0'5 millim. to 07 millim. in length by 0'04 millim. to 

 0'06 millim. in breadth. 



Localities : Pearl banks off Aripu, Gulf of Manaar ; and deep water off Galle. 



Paraspongodes striata, n. sp. Plate II., figs. 2 and 7. 



A specimen without " Stiitzbiindel," with no spicules in the canal walls, and 

 polyps disposed in well-defined bundles must be referred to the genus Paraspongodes 



(see KtJKENTHAL, 1896). 



The colony studied stands 67 millims. high by 49 millims. in maximum breadth ; the 

 general colour is whitish. A short substantial stem gives off three main branches 

 which divide and re-divide, so that the appearance of an irregular corymb of umbels 

 results. The average length of a terminal branch is 4 millims. The polyps occur in 

 bundles of 6 to 7, and these bundles are grouped to form an umbel. A much finer 

 specimen, which was left at Liverpool, measured 22 centims. in height, 11 centims. 

 before the first branching, and 4 centims. across at the base. 



The superficial coenenchyma of the branches is deeply striated transversely, we 

 may almost say ringed, and is tough in character ; on the main stem the surface is 

 irregularly wrinkled and rough in texture. 



The polyps vary in length from I'l millims. to 2 '3 millims., and in breadth from 

 0'65 millim. to 0'9 millim. They are supported by spindle-shaped spicules uniformly 

 disposed in contiguous longitudinal rows, and measuring 0'18 millim. to 0'6 millim. 

 in length by 0'04 millim. to 0'06 millim. in breadth. The tentacles measure 

 0'6 millim. in length, and two or three pairs of plump pinnules are visible. 



In the coenenchyma the spicules are minute but very numerous. They occur as 

 rough spindles or rods irregularly branched, and also as what may bo called irregular 

 stars. They vary in length from 0'09 millim. to 0'16 millim., and in breadth from 

 0'03 millim. to 0'06 millim. 



Locality : Deep water outside pearl banks, Gulf of Manaar. 



Another larger specimen, 169 millims. in length by 69 millims. in maximum 

 breadth, from the same locality seemed at first different. 



It had a relatively much longer stalk with basal rhizoid branches ; it showed 

 greater transparency of texture, less abundant superficial spicules, less marked 

 transverse wrinkling, and a larger number (7 to 11) of polyps in each bundle. 

 Closer examination showed essential agreement as to spicules, polyps, tentacles, &c. 

 The measurements for this specimen show considerable variation, as the following 

 table indicates : 



