558 DR J. STUART THOMSON ON 



The spicules of the polyps and of the trunk are mostly spindles. The tentacles and 

 upper part of the polyp have long spindles with short processes. These spindles are 

 mostly red in colour, but yellow ones occur at the apices of the tentacles. These 

 spicules are disposed en chevron in eight triangular stripes or bands and in an encircling 

 basal ring. The spicules of this part have the following dimensions : 0'15 by 0'04 to 

 0'32 by 0'05 mm. The spicules of the calyx are much shorter and broader spindles. 

 They are all red in colour, and are very abundant. They have the following dimen- 

 sions : From 0'08 by 0'04 to 0'12 by 0'06 mm. 



A rough section through the polyp-bearing part shows numerous, usually long 

 spicules towards the outside, only a few occurring nearer the centre. The spicules of 

 the internal trunk are clubs and spindles, and differ slightly from those situated more 

 externally. Those of the external trunk approach more nearly in shape to those of the 

 polyps. There are apparently two kinds, long and short. The spicules of the external 

 trunk have the following dimensions : From 0'07 by 0'04 to 0'17 by O'lO, and from 0'25 

 by 0'08 to 0'28 by O'lO mm. The spicules of the internal trunk measure as follows: 

 From 0'14 by 0'06 to 0'17 by 0'08 mm., and from 0'14 by 0'06 to 0'15 by 0'09 mm. 



Localities, etc. : P.F. 1 0,88 1. Umhloti river mouth (Natal), N. by W. f W. 8| miles. 

 By large dredge. Depth, 40 fathoms. Bottom, sand and shells. Date, Dec. 18, 1900. 



P.F. 10,948A. Tongaati river mouth, N. W. by N. N. 5^ miles. By large dredge. 

 Depth, 36 fathoms. Bottom, sand and shells. Date, Dec. 20, 1900. 



This species appears, in the main, to agree with the characters of Metalcyonium 

 clavatum given by PFEFFER, MAY, and KUKENTHAL ; unfortunately, there are no 

 figures of this species, and only scanty ones of its spicules. There are certain 

 differences, but such as might probably occur in members of the same species collected 

 from localities so widely separated as Natal and South Georgia. PFEFFER describes the 

 polyp-bearing part of the colony as sometimes eight times longer than broad, but in my 

 specimen it is only two to three times. His specimens were also larger and of a 

 different colour, namely, slate-grey or nearly white. He speaks of several transversely 

 situated spicules beneath the " zooid" crown. From MAY'S description, I gather that 

 the polyp spicules are approximately the same size as in my specimens ; but that there 

 are no spicules in the internal coenenchyma. In my specimens there are a few 

 spicules in the internal coenenchyma. 



KUKENTHAL'S description of his species shows that his specimens were smaller, 

 the upper end of the colony sometimes swollen, and the whole colony slightly bent 

 inwards. The upper end of the colony was not dilated in my specimens. The polyps 

 appear to be larger in his specimens. The number of pinnules is approximately the 

 same. The size of the polyp spicules is also nearly the same. He mentions the absence 

 of horizontally disposed spicules beneath the tentacular series. The spicules agree in 

 the main with those of my specimens. As in my specimens, he found spicules in the 

 internal coenenchyma, but this does not agree with MAY'S observations. KUKENTHAL'S 

 specimens were whitish, the stalk grey. Two or three colonies originated together from 



