104 BIARIXE BIOLOGY OF THE SUDANESE RED SEA. 



The spicules of tlie lower cortex do not differ from those of the upper 

 cortex in form or colour. 



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

 metres : — 



Spindles: 0-75 x 0-075; 0-7 x 0-1; 0-65 x 0-05; O'G x 0-05 ; 0-5 X 0-03: 



0-4 x 0-05 ; 0-3 x 0-03 ; 0-1 X 0-03. 

 Clubs: 0-6 X 0-1; 0-4 x 01; O-oxO'l; 0-35 X 0-075 ; 0'3x 0-075. 



The canal-walls are without spicules. 



Some other specimens agreed with the above in general structure, in the 

 nature of the " Stiitzbiindel," in the armature of the anthocodia, in the spicules 

 of the cortex, and so on. Thus one could not but admit that all the colonies 

 belonged to the same species, and yet it was impossible to say that the polyps 

 were really grouped in bundles, which is one of the diagnostic features of the 

 genus Sponffodes. In some cases they were arranged on a terminal branch in 

 a catkin-like or spike-like manner. This was the rule in ona specimen. 



It may be noted that Kiikenthal admits that certain specimens were inter- 

 mediate iu this respect between SjMiigodes and Xeplitliya, and consequently 

 difficult to place. 



The point to be noted in these colonies is that, though obviously all of the 

 same species, yet they ditier in a generic feature ! 



If we take a composite view of all the specimens this species combines the 

 characteristics of both Spongodes and Nephthya. Yet the colony described 

 in detail must be placed in the glomerate division of the genus Spongodes^ 

 Within that division it seems to represent a new species. 



Locality. — Suez Bay. 



Spongodes pharonis, n. sp. (Plate 5. figs. 2 & 3.) 



Several colonies of the umbellate type, agreeing with Kiikenthal's riibra- 

 oroup in having branches of approximately equal length, with the upper 

 surface practically even. They differ from any of the species of Spongodes 

 hitherto described from the Red Sea — viz. : S. savignyi, S. hempricld, S. klunz- 

 inget'i, S. arborea, S. mayi, S. hartmeyeri, and S. ehrenbergi — in possessing the 

 following combination of diagnostic characters : — - 



a. The umbellate development of the colony. 

 h. The absence of spicules on the tentacles. 



c. The absence of spicules in the canal-walls. 



d. The occasional presence of a strongly developed spine or sometimes 



of two spines projecting prominently beyond a corymb of polyps, 

 greatly exceeding in diameter and in length the " Stiitzbiindel " 

 .spicule or spicules which project beyond the anthocodia of each 

 polyp. 



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