PROF. THOMSON AND MR. McQUEEN—REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIANS. 63 
Taf. 26) : but in the nature of the projecting “ Stiitzbiindel ” spindle and in 
the number and arrangement of the spicules on the anthocodia it closely 
approaches S. mayi. It seems to belong to the group of allied species referred 
to under S. hemprichi. 
There is a somewhat flattened flexible stem, longitudinally furrowed, 8°5 em, 
in length and 1 em. in breadth. The cortex of the stem shows well-marked 
transverse striations due to the underlying spindles. 
Small polyp-bearing twigs spring from the stem, somewhat sparsely below, 
more thickly above, so that the apex of the stem is completely hidden by 
polyp-bundles. 
From the stem there arise at irregular intervals secondary branches whose 
length decreases in a somewhat graduated fashion. The following measure- 
ments of the length of the various branches from below upwards on the stem 
serve to indicate this feature: 2 em.; 1°75 cm.; 1°5 cm.; 1 em. These 
secondary branches bear polyp-bearing twigs in thick clusters. The polyps 
are in bundles of from 6 to 12 or even more. 
The “Stiitzbiindel ” consists of 2 to 4 spindles, one of which projects 
0-4 mm. or more beyond theanthocodia. This spindle is spinose below with a 
smooth tip. Of the projecting ‘ Stiitzbiindel ” spicules, which are generally 
of a yellow colour, the following measurements were taken (length and breadth 
in millimetres) :—2°3 x 0:1; 2°4x0:1. The tip is smooth for 0°35 mm, 
On the anthocodia there are eight double rows of converging spicules with 
from 6 to 9 in each row. One spicule of the uppermost row, or occasionally 
both, may project for 0°2 mm. beyond the anthocodia. Thus Kiikenthal’s 
figure of an anthocodia of S. mayi (see Ueber einige Korallentiere des roten 
Meeres, Taf. v. fig. 20) exactly represents what may be seen occasionally in 
this species, except that only one projecting “ Stiitzbiindel ” spicule is the rule 
and not two as figured. 
When both spicules of the uppermost row project, they lie almost parallel 
to each other in sharp contrast to the pairs below, which converge at a right 
or a slightly obtuse angle. 
The tentacles are without spicules. The colour of the anthocodial spicules 
ranges from red to yellow. 
The spicules of the upper cortex consist of spindles, clubs, bicuspids, with 
an oceasional triradiate form. They are very spinose, not merely along the 
margins, but on every surface; and are colourless or tinged with yellow. 
The following measurements were taken of length and breadth in milh- 
MeLres :— 
Spindles: 17X01; 114x015; 0°95 x 0°075 ; 08x 0;05)2 0575 x 0-075 ; 
0:7 x 0:075 ; 0°6 x 0°05 ; 0°5 x 0:05 : 0°25 x 0°02. 
Ciubs : 0°75 x O71; 0-4 x O'l. 
Bicuspids : 0°6 x 0:075. 
Triradiates; each arm, 0°3 x 072, 
