94 Proceedinijs of the Roi/al Irish Academtj. 



The coeneiichyma has a very arenaceous surface, aud is moderately Ihiu. 



The general colour of the colony is reddish orange ; but the verrucae are 

 distinctly red. 



The polyps are disposed in two longitudinal series, each consisting of two 

 or three transverse rows, and separated by two distinct bare tracts (fig. 69j. 

 There is no flattening of the branches, nor is there any sign of a longitudinal 

 depression. The verrucae are low and slightly dome-like. 



The axis is slender, tapering only slightly, and is deeply grooved. It is 

 composed of concentric laminae, and is densely calcareous ; the diameter at 

 the base is 1"5 mm., but it is hair-like at the tip. 



Localities. — Ceylon Seas. 



Scirpearitt furcafa Hickson. 



This species was established for two fragments from the Maldives. The 

 larger was 90 mm. long. Both exhibited an orange-red-coloured coenenchyma, 

 with dark red dome-shaped verrucae, closely crowded, but separated into two 

 groups by broad, spirally directed, bare tracts. The more delicate specimen 

 had a single branch which was bifurcated at its extremity. (See xv., fig. 8.) 



Localities. — S. Nilandu, 25 fathoms; N., Male, 20 fathoms. 



tScirpearia furcata var. (?) Hickson. 



A specimen 200 mm. long, slightly branched, and differing from the type. 

 It is more delicate in build, has less prominent verrucae, and the colour- 

 is not so much a pure red, but is tinged with orange. 



Locality. — N. Nilandu (Maldives;, 24 fathoms. 



Superficially, these different specimens are hardly distinguishable. The 

 forked specimen of S.f areata aud the type specimen of S. sp (('j are identical 

 in colour and in the distribution and nature of the verrucae ; but the 

 branches in the former are short ; while in the latter they are long and 

 whip-like. The other specimens of ;S'. furcata and the type specimen of 

 iS. furcata far. (?) seem, however, to form intermediate links. Let us now 

 consider the specimens referred to Scirpearella. 



Scirpearella indica Hickson. 



This species was established by Hickson for several specimens from the 

 ^Maldives with the following characteristics : — 



All are uubranehed. The diameter of the specimens varies very little, 

 and is in all about 3 '5 to 4 mm.; the apex is blunt. The verrucae vary 

 considerably. In one specimen they are pointed and about 1 mm. in height ; 

 at the base of the other, they are broader and less prominent. In places 

 they have an appearance like " a shallow ledge that reminds one of the 

 edible nests of the swallow (Collocalia)," similar to that described by 

 Wright and Studer for S. profunda. The verrucae are arranged in six or 

 seven slightly spiral rows. 



