340 Proccediwjs of the Roi/at Irkk Academy. 



The coenenchjTna has a very arenaceous smface, aud is moderately thin. 

 The general colour of the colony is reddish orange ; but the verrucae are 

 distinctly red. 



The pol)'ps are disposed in two longitudinal series, each consisting of two 

 or three transverse rows, and separated by two distinct bare tracts (tig. 69). 

 There is no flattening of the branches, nor is there any sign of a longitudinal 

 depression. The verrucae are low and slightly dome-like. 



The axis is slender, tapering only slightly, and is deeply grooved. It is 

 composed of concentric laminae, and is densely calcareous ; tlie diameter at 

 the base is lo mm., but it is hair-like at the tip. 

 Localities. — Ceylon Seas. 

 Scirptaria furcata Hickson. 



This species was established for two fragments from the Maldives. The 

 larger was 90 mm. long. Both e.xhibited an orange-red-coloured coeuenchyma, 

 with dark red dome-shaped verrucae, closely crowded, but separated into two 

 groups by broad, spirally directed, bare tracts. The more delicate specimen 

 had a single branch which was bifurcated at its e.xtremity. (See xv., lig. 8.) 

 Localities. — S. Nilandu, 25 fathoms; N., Male, 20 fathoms. 

 IScirpearia fureata var. (?) Hickson. 



A specimen 200 mm. long, slightly branched, and difl'ering from the type. 

 It is more delicate in build, lias less prominent verrucae, and the coloiu 

 is not so much a pure re<l, but is tinged with orange. 

 Locality. — N. Nilandu (Maldives), 24 fathoms. 



Superficially, these different specimens are hardly distinguishable. Tlie 

 forked specimen of S.jurcata and the type specimen of S. sp. (?) are identical 

 in colour and in the distribution and nature of the verrucae ; but the 

 branches in the former are short ; while in the latter they are long and 

 whip-like. The other specimens of S. fv.rcata and the type specimen of 

 S. /urea (a var. (?) seem, however, to fonu intermediate links. Let us now 

 consider the specimens referred to Scirpearclla. 

 ScirpcarcUa indica Hickson. 



This species was established by Hickson for several specimens from the 

 Maldives with the following characteristics : — 



All are nnbranched. The diameter of the specimens varies very little, 

 and is in all about 3-5 to 4 mm. ; the apex is blunt. The verrucae vary 

 considerably. In one specimen they are pointed and about 1 mm. in height 

 at the base of the other, they are broader and less prominent. In places 

 they have an appearance like " a shallow ledge that reminds one of the 

 edible nests of the swallow (Collocalin)," similar to that described by 

 Wright and Studer for S. profuruta. The verrucae are arranged in six or 

 seven slightly spiral rows. 



