34:1 Proceedings of the Roijal Irish Academy. 



of variation as great as, if uot greater than, that recorded for the individual 

 portions hitherto described. 



We therefore propose to give a fairly exhaustive account of this colony, 

 and regard it as the type of the species in its emended form. 



A beautiful colony of an orange-red colour 52 cm. in height and about 

 16 cm. in breadth. It is largely branched, approximately in one plane, and 

 in a manner similar to that in Jimcdla gemmacea. It is complete to the very 

 base ; but some of the bi-auches have been broken off". These are nearly all 

 preserved, however ; and it is possible to piece them together so as to get an 

 idea of the nature of the colony as a whole when living (fig. 76). 



The main stem has a diameter of 4o mm. at the base and 3'o mm. at a 

 heitrht of 100 mm. where it has been broken off". 



The first branch arises at a distance of 18 mm. from the base ; it is 3 mm. 

 in diameter at its point of origin, and tapers gradually to a point ; it is 

 145 mm. in length. The second arises after another 33 mm., and attains a 

 length of 445 mm. ; it is 4 mm. in diameter at its origin, and gives rise to a 

 secondary branch 375 mm. long aft4?r a distance of 82 mm. ; the diameter of 

 the latter is 3 mm. at its point of origin. A third primary branch comes off 

 at a distance of 95 mm. from the base, and is 3 mm. in diameter near its 

 origin ; it is 430 mm. in length, and tapers gradually to a conical point. 



The coenenchyma is thin and finely granular ; it is of a pale yellow 

 colour, but the verrucae are red. Near tlie base long streaks of red extend 

 longitudinally from the verrucae and interlock, giving a peculiar tessellated 

 pattern (cf. the type specimen of Scirpmrdla »ji. JJ.). This feature may be 

 seen in other parts of the colony. 



The polyps are disposed on the branches in two longitudinal series, 

 separated by two distinct bare tracts, which may be more ireegular or even 

 altogether absent. 



Near the base the verrucae are only slightly elevated, and in many cases 

 hartUy project beyond the coenenchyma (fig. 77). 



Near the origin of the second primary branch there are 3-5 longitudinal 

 rows in each series ; the verrucae are low and dome-like, or in some cases 

 like bluntly truncate cones, having an eight-rayed structure at the summit 

 (fig. 78). 



About midway on the third primary branch there are 4-5 longitudinal 

 rows in each series ; the verrucae are sub-cylindrical and closely adpressed 

 to the stem (fig. 79). 



Towards the tips of the branches the number of rows of polyps in each 

 series diminishes to two and eventually to one ; the verrucae are sub-cylin- 

 drical or in some cases dome-like (fig. 80). 



