876 DR. J. STUART THOMSOX OX 



in a similar manner to that shown by Wright and Studer for this 

 species ; straight rod-like spicules with rounded processes ; clubs 

 and spicules of an irregular shape. 



The spicules of the polyps are yellow in colour. 



The spiculesof thecoenenchyma have the following dimensions: — 

 (a) Clubs, from 0-102 x 0-054 to 0-187 x 0-076 mm. ; {b) curved 

 spindles, from 0-085 x 0-0204 to 0'238 x 0-047 mm. ; (c) straight 

 spindles, from 0-0765 x 0'0204 to 0272 x 0-0646 mm. ; (d) irregu- 

 larly-shaped spicules, from 0-085 x 0'068 to 0-119 x 0-068 mm. 



The dimensions of the polyp spicules are as follows : — (a) straight 

 spindles, from 0'081 x 0037 to 0-153x0-025 mm.; (b) curved 

 spindles, from 0-122 x 0-034 to 0-187 x 0-034 mm. ; (c) clubs, from 

 0-085x0-034 to 0-136x0-051 mm.; (d) irregular spicules, from 

 0-076 X 0-1 10 to 0-170 x 0-034 mm. 



Locality, efc.— P.F. 852. About 25 miles east of East London. 

 Lat. 32° 48' 30" S.; Long. 28° 11' 15" E, By shrimp trawl. 

 Depth, 22 fathoms. Nature of bottom, mud. Date, January 11, 

 1899. 



Melitodes nodosa "W. & S. 



The specimen was not complete, the base being absent a,nd many 

 of the terminal branches had become broken aw^ay. The entire 

 colony probably measured 230 mm. in length and 120 mm. in 

 breadth. The branches all arise in one plane. The nodes are 

 very prominent, measuring as much as 6 mm. in diameter and 

 5 mm. in height near the base of the colony, and 2 mm. in 

 diameter and 1-5 mm. in height on the small apical branches. 

 The internodes vary considerably in length, namely, from 2 mm. 

 near the base of the colony to 12-13 mm, on the terminal 

 branches. The internodes are more or less cylindrical, and their 

 diameter varies from about 3 mm. near the base to 1 mm, at the 

 apex. Several of the branches originate fi'om the internodes, as 

 in the specimens of this species collected by the ' Challenger.' 

 There is a slight anastomosis near the base of the colony, produced 

 by branches springing from the nodes. 



On the upper bi'anches the j^olyps are disti-ibuted on all sides ; 

 on the lower part, however, they are mostly confined to three 

 sides. The polyps are retractile within well-defined verructe, 

 which measure about 1 mm. in diameter and 0*75 mm. in height. 



The ground colour of the colony is yellow, the nodes are brown, 

 the verrucse yellow. The axis, when deprived of the overlying 

 coenenchyma, is brown at the nodes and white at the internodes. 



The coenenchyma is rough owing to the presence of numerous 

 spicules and has a thickness of 1-2 mm. The surface of the 

 coenenchyma has longitudinal grooves. The spicules of the 

 coenenchyma are (1) irregularly-curved spindles, (2) irregularly- 

 branched spicules, (3) curved, spinous spindles, (4) 4-rayed forms. 

 Their dimensions are as follows : — Irregularly-curved spindles, 

 from 0-204x0-059 to 0-238x0-051 mm.; irregularly-branched 

 spicules, from 0*0765 x 0-068 to 0-136 x 0-085 mm",; curved. 



