314 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



(4.) The irregular curved operculate spicules are from '15 to 

 25 mm. in length, and from -05 to ! mm. in diameter at the free 

 dentate end. 



(5.) The tentacle spicules are curved, acute at one end and 

 dentate at the other, the teeth being generally confined to the 

 convex side, they are from '05 to "1 mm. in length. 



Colour in formol is yellowish-white. 



Villogorgia flagellata is distinguished from other species of the 

 genus by its slender whip-like branches, and by its single layer of 

 quadriradiate spicules. 



VILLOGORGIA INTRICATA, Gray. 



Brandella intricata, Gray, Cat. Lithophytes Brit. Mus., 1870, p. 

 30, fig. 8 ; Ridley, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., ix., ser. 5, 1882, 

 p. 188. 



One specimen, 120 mm. in height and 70 mm. wide, the axis is 

 dark brown at the base, the branches light yellowish-brown, the 

 polyps and coenenchyma are creamy-white. 



BEBRYCE STUDERI, sp. nov. 

 (Plate xvii., figs. 21 - 25.) 



Of this species only one small specimen is available, the base is 

 wanting and some of the smaller branches are broken off. 



The stem is 60 mm. in height and 1*5 mm. in diameter. The 

 branches are in a plane, alternate and generally at right angles 

 to the stem ; there are four lateral branches, situated at irregular 

 distances apart, three of which bear one or two branchlets, these 

 in turn bearing very short twigs. 



The axis is horny, the main stem dark brown, the branches 

 yellowish-brown . 



The polyps are alternate, rarely opposite, and arranged in rather 

 loose irregular spirals round the stem and branches, at the ex- 

 tremities of the twigs there are usually a pair placed on opposite 

 sides, which are slightly larger than those on the rest of the 

 colony. 



The polyps form low rounded elevations from -3 to -7 mm. in 

 heighth, and from -8 to 1 mm. in diameter, and from 1- to 4- ram. 

 apart. 



The ccBnenchyma is thin, grayish-white in colour, and has a 

 finely granular appearance under a moderate magnifying power. 



The coenenchyma of the stem and walls of the polyps are densely 

 coated with an external layer of minute spicules, which, viewed 



