46 DR. W. RAE SHERKIFFS ON EVOLUTION 



very weakly developed and shows only occasionally a projecting 

 needle. 



7. Other spicitles. Those of the sterile stalk are almost en- 

 tirely small, star-shaped forms. In the foliaceous collar we find 



(1) large, curved, almost smooth spindles up to 5 mm. in length; 



(2) quaint, flattened forms, like biscuit-fingers in shape, not 

 exceeding 1 mm. ; (3) the small red, rough spicules of the antho- 

 codia ; and (4) the tiny, flat, jagged ones of the tentacles. 



Salient Features : — The peculiar mode of growth (Avhich seems 

 to be unique), the limpness of the whole colony, the length of the 

 polyp stalks. 



I refer my specimens to D. clavata, although Kiikenthal's 

 description does not mention any growth peculiarity such as has 

 been noted here. The important points of agreement are the 

 following : — 



(1) a glomerate mode of branching (Glomeratse), with the polyp- 



bearing twigs predominating over the stem and main 

 branches in building up the polyparium (hemprichi 

 group); . _ _ 



(2) a primitive anthocodial armature with 7-8 (D. clavata 



10-12) pairs of very uniform, short, rod-like spindles in 

 each point ; no distinct crown ; 



(3) a very weakly developed supporting bundle which only 



occasionally shows a projecting needle ; 



(4) a long polyp stalk of from 1-2 mm, (about 1 mm. in 



D. clavata) ; 



(5) a well-developed foliaceous collar ; 



(6) an almost exclusive occurrence of small, plump stars and 



double stars in the cortex of the sterile stalk ; 



(7) a practically complete absence of spicules from the canal- 



walls. With agreements so numerous it seems entirely 

 justifiable to disregard the extraordinary growth pecu- 

 liarities. 

 Locality : — Station 302. 



2. Dendronephthya gigantea (Verr.). (Plate II.) 



Described by Verrill, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Cambridge, p. 40 

 (1864). 



Diagnosis : — Glomerate ; with numerous rounded, polyp- 

 bearing masses, the lowest branches slightly foliaceous ; polyps 

 densely arranged in characteristic hemispherical masses ; polyp 

 stalks short, under 1 mm. ; supporting bundle very strong ; point 

 spicules very variable, 1-6 pairs ; no crown ; grade IV. ; spicules 

 of the upper cortex are large (4 mm.), covered with blunt warts 

 and lie transversely, lower cortex and canal-walls have stouter 

 and shorter spindles, triradiates and multiradiates ; colour : cortex 

 white, polyps deep orange. 



