PllOF. THOMSON AND MR. McQUEEN — REPORT ON THE ALCrONARIANS. lO.'J 



Taf. 26) : but in the nature of the projecting " Stiitzhiimlel "" spindle ami in 

 the number and arrangement oi: the spiiniles on the antliocodia it closely 

 approaches S, mai/i. It seems to belong to the group of allied species referred 

 to under S. hemprichi. 



There is a somewhat flattened flexible stem, longitudinally furrowed, )>■") c-ni 

 in lengtii and 1 em. in breadth. The cortex of the stem shows well-marked 

 transverse striations due to the underlying spindles. 



Small polyp-hearing twigs spring from the stem, somewhat sparsely belou'. 

 more thickly above, so that the apex of the stem is completely hidden by 

 polyp-bundles. 



From the stem there arise at irregular intervals secondary branches whose 

 length decreases in a somewliat graduated fashion. The following measure- 

 ments of the length of the various branches from below upwards on the stem 

 serve to indicate this feature: 2 cm.; IwT) cm, ; TS cm.; 1 cm. These 

 secondary branches bear polyp-bearing twigs in thick clusters. The polyps 

 are in bundles of from 6 to 12 or even more. 



The " Stiitzbiindel " consists of 2 to 4 spindles, one of which projects 

 04 mm. or more beyond theanthocodia. Tiiis spindle is spinose below witii a 

 smooth tip. Of the projecting " Stiitzbiindel" spicules, wdiich are generally 

 of a yellow colour, the fx)llowing measurements were taken (lengtii and breadth 

 ill millimetres) : — 2'3 x 1 ; 2"4: x 0"1. The tip is smooth for 035 mm. 



On the anthocodia there are eight double rows of converging spicules with 

 from G to y in each row. One spicule of the uppermost row, or occasionally 

 both, may project for 0'2 mm. beyond the anthocodia. Thus Kiikenthal's 

 figure of an anthocodia of S. mai/i (see Ueber cinige Korallentiere des roten 

 Meeres, Taf. v. fig. 20) exactly represents what may be seen occasionally in 

 this species, except that only one projecting " Stiitzbiindel " spicule is the rule 

 and not two as figured. 



When both spicules of the uppermost row project, they lie ahuost parallel 

 to each other in sharp contrast to the pairs below, which converge at a right 

 or a slightly obtuse angle. 



The tentacles are without spicules. The colour of the anthocodial sj)icules 

 ranges from red to yellow. 



The spicules of the upper cortex consist of spindles, clubs, bicuspids, with 

 an occasional triradiate form. They are very sjiinose, not merely along the 

 margins, but on every surface; and are colourless or tinged with yellow. 



Tlie following measurements were taken of length and breadth in milli- 

 metres : — 



Sjundles : 1-7 X O'l ; 1-4 x O'l ; O-Oo x 0-(l7.") ; OS x 0-05 : ()-li> x 0-01', ; 



0-7 X 0-075 ; 0-6 x 0-05 ; 0-5 x 0-05 ; 0-25 x 0-02. 

 Clubs: 0-75 X 0-1; 0-4x0-l, 

 Bicuspids : 0'6x 0-075. 

 Ti'inidiates: each arm, 0'3 X 0-2. 



[6:?] c 



