ALCYONARIA PROM SINGAPORE. 513 



retained for forms in which the polyps are disposed sporadically 

 or in bundles. The net i-esult of this reformation was the 

 inclusion in the genus Nephthya of all foi-ms hithei'to included in 

 the " Spicatfe " group of the genus Spongodes. 



In adopting this means of classification it became necessary 

 to include Sp. celosia, Lesson's type of the genus /Spongodes, in 

 the emended genus Nephthya ; nevertheless, the name Spongodes 

 Avas 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 Spongodes. The definition of the 

 genus Nephthya given in the paper under consideiation runs 

 thus : — " Nephthyiden mit ' Stiitzblindel.' Die Kolonie ist 

 buschig veriistelt, die meist Kurzen unci nur vereinzelt sterilen 

 Stammteile sind durch einen abgeflachten, oft membranosen 

 Basalteil verbunden. Die Polypen stehen in grosser Zahl und 

 zeimlich gleichmjissig verteilt auf den Steinzweigen, die dadurch 

 die Form von jihrenformigen Lappen oder 'Katzchen' erhalten. 

 Hervorragende Spicula der Polypenkopf chen fehlen." May (1899) 

 accepted the foregoing definition of the genus Nephthya, and in 

 his ' Revision of the ISTephthyidas ' (1903) Kiikenthal has not had 

 occasion to modify it. 



A '' Stutzbi'mdel." 



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

 thyidfe lies in the definition of the term " Stiitzbiindel." Much 

 of the opposition to the above classification has arisen through 

 the different interpretations which various authors have attached 

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

 an extremely comprehensive sense, the range of which can be 

 circumscribed, however, by the following limits : — 



A " Stiitzbiindel " is an aggregation 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 commonlj^^ 

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

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

 characteristic 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 appear 

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

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

 whether or not in eve^y polyp, must be classified as possessing a 

 " Stiitzbiindel." 



In the genus Lithojohytitm, which closely resembles Nephthya 

 in external appearance, the a,nthocodise being massed on small 

 terminal lobes or lappets, there is no " Stiitzbiindel." The 

 anthocodije contain very few spicules, some of which are loosely 

 arranged en chevron along the abaxial surface. Both the small 

 size and oblique position of the spicules so arranged prevent their 

 being described as foi'ming a " Stiitzbiindel." 



