70 Proceedings of the Royal Irish' Academi/ . 



The anthocodiae are verj' ininute ; the tentacles are short and white, and 

 bear one row of pinnules. They are first infolded, and then the tip of the 

 verruca is introverted. 



The canal system is typical ; and the two main canals are evident in a cross- 

 section, corresponding to the two bare spaces. There is no inequality in 

 their size, so that we are justifled in concluding that the apparent arrange- 

 ment of the polyps is due to contraction while killing. 



The axis is cylindrical and very densely calcareous ; it is composed of 

 concentric laminae. Near the base it is dark brown in colour ; but in the 

 younger part it is of a golden-yellow hue. The surface is mai'ked with 

 irregular longitudinal striae which correspond to the inner series of canals. 

 There is no suggestion of two depressions larger' than the others. 



The spicules of this species are very characteristic (fig. 31). They are 

 very regular in outline, and are covered with warts, which are slightly 

 papillose at the summit. The elongated double-clubs are extremely blunt at 

 the ends. 



The following are the chief types, with measurements, length by breadth, 

 in millimetres : — 



{a) Large double-clubs with a short broad constriction. The ends are 

 almost hemispherical ; the warts are few in number, large and 

 papillose: O'OS x 0-05; 0-075 x 0055; 0-075 x 0-05. 



(h) Smaller double-clubs very similar to the above : 0-06 x 003 ; 

 0-05 X 0-025. 



(c) Elongated double-clubs with round ends. In some of these the 

 constriction is very marked, while in others it is hardly visible, so 

 that this type passes through double-spindles to simple-spindles. 

 They are covered with few, large, papillose warts: O'll x 0045; 

 0-11 X 0-035; 0-1 X 0-04; 0085 x 0035; 0-07 x 0-02. 



Zoca?i<?/.— Andamans, 36 fathoms. 



XVII. — Scirpearia verrucosa u. sp. Figs. 32 and 33. 



In the Indian Museum Littoral Collection there occurs a complete simple 

 flagelliform colony, 27 cm. in length, attached to a piece of shell, for which the 

 establishment of a new species has been necessary. The coenenchyma is 

 very thin, and the surface is granular; its maximum thickness is about 

 0-75 mm. 



The general colour of the colony is salmon-pink ; but the anthocodiae and 

 the tips of the verrucae, when only slightly retracted, are white. The 

 distribution of the polyps is identical with that in Scirpearia hicksoni n. sp. 



