Simpson — A Revision of the GorcfoncUidae. ^37 



The general colour of the colony is brick-red ; but the anthocodiae are 

 white. 



The base of the colony and the main stem for a short distance ai"e devoid 

 of verrucae, but in tlie polyp-bearing region they appear to occur all round 

 the stem in rows, and so simulate a spiral arrangement. Closer examination, 

 however, reveals two distinct longitudinal sinuous bare tracts. There are 

 about four irregular rows in each of the polyp-bearing regions in the older 

 parts ; but in the branch, which is present, there are only two rows ; while 

 near the tip there is only one. The verrucae are small and comparatively 

 distant. In the older part of the stem they are cylindrical, stand perpendi- 

 cularly, and are about 1 mm. in height and 0-5 mm. in diameter ; but in the 

 branch they are more retracted, and almost dome-like. '\\Tien partially 

 retracted the apex is flattened, and has a distinct eight-rayed structure. 



The canal system is typical ; the two main canals are not much larger 

 than the others, but are quite distinct. The axis is cylindrical, and is 

 composed of concentric laminae ; it is densely calcareous, hard yet flexible. 

 The surface is deeply grooved, especially in the lower part. This is due to 

 the large size of the canals of the inner longitudinal series. 

 Localitij. — Ceylon Sea. 



Scirpearella divisa. — We have examined the spicules of this species, and 

 can find no reason for separating it from S. mirantiaca. The type-specimen 

 consisted of a fragment of a reddish-orange colony with four branches, 7 cm. 

 in height and about 2 mm. in diameter. The ^'errucae are very low and 

 gently rounded; towards the end of the highest branch, where they are 

 closely crowded and very distinct, the arrangement appears to be in four 

 rows with a suggestion of a spiral ; in the older parts the verrucae are very 

 inconspicuous, not close together, and somewhat irregularly disposed. 



The coenenchyma is finely granular, almost smooth to the naked eye, 

 The axis is very calcareous, light yellow in colour, with ten shallow grooves 

 on the part examined. It is about 1'4 mm. in diameter out of a total branch 

 diameter of 2 mm. 



The spicules of this species are very characteristic. They consist of : — 



(a) Do\ible-clubs with hemispherical heads in which the warts are arranged 



concentrically ; the constriction is very short : 0'0684 x 0049 ; 

 0-065 X 0-038 ; 0-053 x 0-03. 



(b) Double-clubs, slender with elongated ends, tending to double-spindles : 



0-084 X 0-019; 0-076 x 0-029; 0-076 x 023. 



(c) Spindles— warty : 0-095x0-027; 0-095 x 0-02; 0087 X 0-015. 



[2 F 2] 



