330 Proceedings of the Roijal Irish Academy. 



Locality. — To the east of Graciosa, Azores, 454 metres. 



To the east of Pico, Azores, 318 metres. 

 With reference to S. ochracea Studer (xxxviii.) makes the following 

 observations : — 



This species is more delicate than S. fla/jdlum. The axis is calcareous; 

 white ; rigid near tlie base, flexible near the tip. The polyps occur on two 

 sides of the stem ; towards the base in two irregular rows, but merging into 

 only one row on each side. They have the shape of cylindrical warts or 

 truncated cones, and stand almost perpendicularly to the coenenchyma. 

 They are 2 mm. in heiglit, and about 2 mm. in diameter at the base. The 

 spicules are very like those of S. flnijcllum ; they consist of double-clubs, 

 with large warts and spines at the two ends : sometimes of a yellowish ochre, 

 sometimes of a white colour. They arc slightly larger than those of 

 S. flagcllnm. 



The colour of the colony is yellowish brown to orange. 



Taking into consideration what has already been seen with regard to 

 variation in the group, we see no reason for separating tliis off as a distinct 

 species. 



LocalHy. — To the east of Pijo, Azores, 318 metres. 



We have examined a beautiful, whip-liko colony, 37 cm. in length, from 

 Naples,' which we refer to this species. The diameter near the base is 2 mm.; 

 but near the tip it b only 1 mm. It gradually tapers upwards, but the 

 terminal 25 cm. are almost uniform in tliickness throughout. 



The coenenchyma is very thin and finely granular ; the surface is marked 

 by longitudinal ridges and furrows, which are the outward expression of the 

 internal canals ; two of ihe.se are much deeper than the othere. The general 

 colour of the colony is reddish orange, but the tips of the verrucae are 

 distinctly more reddish. 



Tlie lower 25 cm. of the stem are devoid of polyps ; this is followed by 

 two opposite longitudinal bare tracts wliich persist to the tip of the colony. 

 On the other two sides the polyps are disposed in a single row in each series. 

 This gives the colony a very markedly bilateral appearance. The verrucae 

 are cylindrical, tall, and narrow. They average 2 mm. in height and 1 mm. 

 in diameter. They stand sometimes in opposite pairs ; but the more common 

 arrangement is alternate. The polyps on the same side are separated by 

 distances of about 3-5 mm. The verrucae are longitudinally striated ; and 

 the summit has a very definite eight-rayed structure. They stand almost 



' Thia specimen was given to me for identification by Professor J. Arthur Thomson, who 

 suggested that it might be incorporated in this memoir. 



