ALCYONARIA FROM STNGArORE. 513 



retained for forms in wliich tlie polyps are (lisposerl sporadically 

 or in bundles. The net result of this reformation -wns the 

 inclusion in the genus Nepliiliya of all forms hitherto included in 

 the " Spicatte " group of the genus tipoiujodes. 



In adopting this means of classification it became necessary 

 to include Sp. celosia, Lesson's type of the genus Sj'iongodes, in 

 the emended genus Nephthya ; nevertheless, the name Sjjongodes 

 was retained by Kiikenthal for his other emended genus, since 

 the latter included a large number of forms which during many 

 years had been described under S2)on(jodes. The definition of the 

 genus Nfiqildliya given in the paper under consideration runs 

 thus : — " Nep'hthyiden mit ' StUtzbiindel.' Die Kolonie ist 

 buschig veriistelt, die meist Kurzen und nur vereinzelt sterilen 

 Stammteile sind durch einen abgeilaehten, oft membranosen 

 Basnlteil verbunden. Die Polypen stehen in grosser Zahl und 

 zeimlich gleichmiissig verteilt auf den Steinzweigen, die dadurch 

 die Form von iihrenformigen Lnppen oder ' Katzchen ' erhalten. 

 Hervoi-ragende Spicula der Polypenkiipf chen f ehlen." May ( 1 899) 

 accepted the foregoing definition of the genus Xephthya, and in 

 his ' Revision of the IS^ephthyidaj ' (1903) Kiikenthal has not had 

 occasion to modify it. 



A " StutzbUndel." 



The crucial point in Kiikentlml's classification of the Neph- 

 thyid;\; lies in the definition of the term " tStiitzblindel." Much 

 of the opposition to the above ckssification has arisen through 

 the different interpi'etations which various authors have attached 

 to the term. Kiikenthal, to whom we owe the word, uses it in 

 an extremely comprehensive sense, the ]\ange of which can be 

 circumscribed, however, by the following limits : — 



A " Stiitzbiindel " is an nggregation of spicules disposed along 

 the abaxial aspect of an anthocodia and lying approximately 

 parallel to its axis. The spicules are usually spindle-shaped ; 

 they are not infrequently lai'ger than those from any other 

 portion of a given specimen, and one or two of them commoidy, 

 but not invariably, reach from the apex of the polyp-stalk into 

 the substance of the colony, A few of the spicules in a 

 characteiistic example protrude beyond the polyp-head, but 

 such a condition is not essential. 



A definite " Stiitzbiindel" may not be recognisable in every 

 polyp of a given colony ; but if such is present it will a})pear 

 most obvious in the younger polyps near the distal ends of the 

 branches. A specimen in which a " Stiitzbiindel " is demonstrable, 

 whethei' or not in every polyp, must be classified as possessing a 

 " Stiitzbiindel." 



In the genus Lithophytuni, which closely resembles Nephtliya 

 in external appearance, the anthocodise being massed on small 

 tei-minal lobes or lappets, there is no " Stiitzbiindel." The 

 anthocodia3 contain very few spicules, some of which are loosely 

 arranged en chevi^on along the abaxial surface. Both the small 

 size and obli(iue position of the spicules so ariunged prevent their 

 beinc' described as foi-miny a " Stiitzbiindel." 



