872 DR. J, SXUART THOMSON OX 



There is a ring of canals immediately svirrounding tlie axis and 

 another ring occurs in the cortex. The polyps are retractile 

 within the verruete. In my specimen all the polyps are retracted. 

 Spicules aie present in the anthocodise. 



The spicules of the polyps are (1) small tri-radiate spicules with 

 sharp spines on the blunt ends of the rays, this being the 

 commonest type of spicules in the polyps ; (2) rods with spines on 

 the expanded ends, some of which approach a dumbbell shape ; 

 (3) approximately straight rods ; and (4) spindles. The spicules 

 are arranged in eight longitudinal bands on the anthocodise and 

 do not appear to be in any definite arrangement in relation to one 

 another. They are all red in colour. 



The spicules of the axial part of the trunk are (1) colourless rods 

 with few spines, (2) spindles with blunt processes, the latter Avith 

 spines or thorns, and (3) irregulax'ly-shaped spicules. 



The spicules of the cortex of the trinik are most frequently 

 spindles (with a similar shape to those of the axial part), tri- 

 I'adiate spicules, short rods, and small irregularly-shaped spicules. 

 The spindles are more characteristic of the cortex, and the rods of 

 the axial part. The wall of the stomodseum contains numerous 

 small red spicules, mostly tri-radiate forms. 



The dimensions of the spicules are as follows : — From the polyps : 



(1) large spindles, from 0-119 x 0-085 to 0-188x0-119 mm.; 



(2) tri-radiate forms, from O'OSlx 0-0357 to 0-068 X 0-068 mm. ; 



(3) 4-rayed forms, from 0-051x0-0425 to 0-068x0-051 mm.; 



(4) small dumbbell-like forms, but with double ends, about 

 0-051x0-020 mm. 



From the cortex of the trunk : (1) large spindles, from 

 0-0935 X 0-0595 to 0-221 x 0-119 mm ; (2) small tri-radiate forms, 

 from 0-0357x0-051 to 0-0595x0-022 mm.; (3) dumbbell-like 

 forms approximately the same size as those of the polyp. 



From the axial part of the trunk : (1) large spindles (only a few 

 occur), from 0-204x0-1105 to 0-289x0-0935 mm.; (2) rods, 

 from 0-085x0-0255 to 0-272x0-0765 mm.; (3) irregularly- 

 shaped spicules, from 0-238x0-119 to 0-340x0-119 mm. 



Loccdity, etc.. — " Pieter Faure," No. 13139. Cape Morgan, 

 N.N.E. 9| miles. Depth, 47 fathoms. Procured by dredge. 

 Nature of bottom, bi'oken shells. Only one specimen of this 

 species was collected. 



Studer gives the following diagnosis of the genus Suheria : — 



" Stamm einfach oder verzweigt, aufrecht, mit einer Achse, die 

 aus unverschmolzenen, von Hornsubstanz umgebenen stabformigen 

 Spicula gebildet wird und der Ernahrungscanale entbehrt. Rinde 

 dick, enthalt spindelfdrmige stachlige Spicula. Die Polypenwarzen 

 sind gross, senki'echt vom Stamme abstehend, die Ofihung an der 

 Spitze der Warzen achtstrahlig. Die Polypen von der Basis bis 

 in die Tentakel mit feinen spindelformigen Spicula erfiillt. Um 

 die Achse ein Kranz von Langscanalen." 



Studer adds that the genus Suheria stands near ,Spo?igioderma, 

 but difiers from it in the form of the calyx and spicules. 



