526 MR. E. W. SHANN OK 



these, rather than to create a new genus from the observation of 

 a single specimen. 



Wright and Stnder (1889, p. xxxvi) give the following de- 

 finition of the genus Wrightella : — " The branches and twigs are 

 compressed ; the projecting polyp calyces occur especially on the 

 sides. In the cortex there are foliaceous clubs. There are no 

 nutritive canals in the axis." The specimen fulfils all these 

 conditions. 



The single main stem arises abruptly from a strong reticulate 

 base (fig. 9). The base, which is broken at the edges, measures 

 15 mm. in diameter, and the gaps in its meshes average 1 mm. 

 in diameter. The colony is 120 mm. in height and 45 mm. in 

 breadth (some of the lateral branches are broken, so it is probable 

 that the true breadth exceeded 45 mm.). The branching of the 

 colony is dichotomous, and takes place at the swollen nodes. The 

 nodes are less prominent in the distal branches. All the branchiug 

 takes place in one plane; the terminal twigs ai-e markedly flattened 

 in the plane of branching. Anastomosis of the upper branches 

 takes place at infrequent intervals. The nodes near the base are 

 globular, having a diameter of 4 mm. ; the internodes in this 

 region are circular in section, their diameter is 2-5 mm., which is 

 slightly exceeded by their length. The internodes beyond the 

 lowest three become more elongated and show an average length 

 of 10 mm. The terminal twigs are only 1 mm. wide. The 

 varrucse, which measure '75 x "75 mm., are not densely crowded, 

 and show a tendency to arrange themselves on the lateral aspects 

 even of many of the Idwer branches, but more especially in the 

 terminal twigs. Both cortex and vertucse are yellow in colour. 

 The axis is Avhite, and is not traversed by nutrient canals. 



The precise locality is hot recorded) but, like the other speci- 

 mens in this collection, it was taken in shallow water near 

 Singapore. 



The spicules attaiil all manner of shapes (fig. 15); they 

 are quite colourlessj The foliaceouS clubs characteristic of the 

 genus Wrightella are present in large tiumbers, and show the 

 following range in measurement : length by breadth -27 x '12 mm., 

 •15 X 'OG mm. ; handlfes of clubs '02 mm. in diameter. Numerous 

 spindles occur, some are foliaceotis and me&,sure '27 X "07 mm., 

 •20 X "08 mm., -12 ?< -06 mm.; others are spiny, the spines fre- 

 quently being confined to the central region, and measure 

 •22X-05 mm*, '17 k -03 mm;, •12x-03 mm. A few stellate 

 forms are found which have a diameter of *l0-'15 mm. Minute 

 scales abound ; they tneastire '05 X "025, "036 X "OoO mm., 

 •028 X -014 mln. 



lyiteftttti:r'e: 



1870. GftAY, J. El— dat. Lithophytes Brit. Mus. p. 31. 



1900: HlCKSON, S. Ji, atid Hiles, Isa L. — "'The Stolonifera and 

 Alcyonacea collected by Dr. Willey in New Britain, 

 etc." Willey's Zed. Reslilts^ pt; iv. pp^ 493-508. 



