190 



Mr. S. O. Ridley's Contrihutions to tlie 



space ; more thickly towards the terminations of the twigs, 

 where they are almost or quite in contact at their bases ; 

 distribution approximately alternate ; prominent, cylindrical, 

 blunt ; length of verruca? of terminal twigs "7 to "75 millim., 

 breadth '75 millim., those of the larger branches somewhat 

 smaller. 



Spicules of general cortex : — (i.) fig. 1, A, linear, the shaft 

 cylindrical, tapering more or less towards one end, the thicker 

 two thirds bearing scattered, rather distant, prominent verru- 



Fig. 1. — Villogorfiia manrifiensis. 



A. Fusiform spicule of cortex, X 00 diam. B. Fusiform spicule of ver- 

 ruca?, X 90 diam. C. Diftereut forms of octoradiate spicule of cortex, 

 X 100 diam, 



ciform tubercles, roughened at their free ends, size '35 by 

 •053 millim. ; (ii.) fig. 1, C, quadriradiate stellates, generally 

 with a somewhat elongate body, almost smooth, from which 

 two pairs of radii are given off in one plane at an angle of 

 from 90° to 135° with one another, and two pairs of similar 

 tubercles on opposite sides of the body, in a plane at right 

 angles to that of the other two pairs, the radii blunt or sub- 

 acute, bearing some large rough tubercles, or with the body 

 developed at the expense of the rays, which then form 

 merely lateral angles of a short barrel- or capstan-shaped 

 shaft; size '14 by '035 millim. Sijicules of verruca? of one 

 kind only, viz. (iii.) fig. 1, B, the same as no. i., but rather 

 longer and with more numerous tubercles, size '39 by "053 

 millim. Colour, dirty black on main branches, wainscot- 

 brown on terminal branches. 



Hah. Mauritius, 80 fathoms (coll. Mus. Brit.). 



Ohs. The single specimen which represents this species was 

 recently obtained from Mr. V. de Robillard in the diy condi- 

 tion. It is of remarkable size, viz. height 32 inches 

 (800 millim.), maximum breadth 18| inches (462 millim.) ; 

 the antcro-posterior diameter of the first main branch is 

 7 millim., the lateral diameter 3 to 5 millim. It has an 



