24 



The polyps are arranged on each lateral surface in ;i sinuous row, which 

 appears like two rows with the polyps of the one alternating with the polyps of 

 the other. They also occur in fours, either in a spiral or in a whorl. The verruca; 

 are truncated cones, about 1 mm. in height, and standing ahout '_' nun. apart. 



The surface of the colony is entirely hidden by an incrustation of sponge and 

 Palythoa, which obscures the form of the calyces. 



When freed from the incrustations the surface of the coenenchyma presents 

 a fine tessellated appearance, which is also seen on the polyp calyces. It appears 

 thin, but this may be the effect of the incrusting sponge. 



The spicules are (a) spindles covered with numerous rough prominent waifs ; 

 (6) a few more oval or globular in shape ; and (c) a few quadriradiate forms with 

 X-shaped marking. The following measurements were taken of length and breadth 

 in millimetres : 



(a) Spindles, 0-2x0-075; O'lGxO'OS; 0'14xO-08. 



(b) Globular forms, 0-3x0-2; 0'2xO-l. 



(c) Quadriradiate forms, O'lO from tip to tip one way x O'lO from tip to 



tip the other way; 0'12 from tip to tip one way x 0"08 from tip to 

 tip the other way. 



The species is near to Parisis fruticosa, Verrill, but is separated from it by 

 (1) the smaller size of the calyces and of the spicules ; and (2) by the pavement- 

 like appearance of the coenenchyma and calyces. 



Locality : Andamans ; 8 miles west of Interview Island ; 270-45 fathoms. 



Family COR A LLJ />./:. 

 Pleurocorallium variabile, n. sp. Plate I. fig. 9 ; Plate V. fig. 6 ; Plate IX. fig. 13. 



To this species we refer a number of broken fragments, the largest of which 

 is 13'5 cms. in height and 6 '2 cms. in width. 



The colony is very profusely branched in one plane. The branches are 

 tortuous, and show little, if any, sign of lateral compression. They arise from the 

 antero-lateral surfaces of the stem, and diminish gradually in thickness towards 

 their tips. From the sides of the large branches and of the stem, numerous short 

 branchlets arise. 



The axis is hard, not easily indented with a knife, solid, almost cylindrical 

 in section in some parts and slightly oval in others. It is white in colour, and 

 its surface is marked by very fine striations, often very faint. 



The ccenenchyma is thin, creamy white in colour, and full of closely packed 

 small spicules which look like glistening sand grains. 



The polyps occur irregularly on the anterior surface of the stem and branches. 

 The tentacles are about 0'5 mm. in length, yellowish in colour, and closely 

 covered by small spicules. 



