.S48 Proceedings of the Royal Irish AcaJcmij. 



external appearance, so that the following notes and figures (figs. 88 and 90) 

 give some idea of the fertility of variation. Let us commence with those in 

 which the verrucae are most contracted. 



A long, simple filiform colony, 82 cm. in length, and having a maximum 

 diameter of 2-5 mm. The coenenchyma is finely granular, and only 0-25 mm. 

 in thickness near the base. The colour of the colony is a pale orange-yellow ; 

 but the tips of the polyps are reddish. 



The veiTucae are small and wart-like ; when retracted they are sunk into 

 the coenencliyma, and show an octoradiate structure (figs. 88« and 88?<). The 

 polyps are disposed in two longitudinal series, with two or three transverse, 

 irregular rows in each series. No polyps occur on the lower basal part of the 

 colony. The polyp-bearing areas are separated by two bare tracts, in one of 

 which there is a distinct furrow, caused by the cnllapse of one of the main 

 canals ; the position of the other main canal is clearly visible owing to the 

 extreme thinness of coenenchpna. 



The verrucae are about 1 mm. in diameter. 



The canal system is well marked and is quite typical of the group. The 

 canals themselves are all ver}' large. 



The axis i.s cylindrical, dark brown at the base, where it is about 1"5 mm. 

 in diameter ; and pale yellow in the upper portion, where it is hair-like in 

 fineness. The surface is marked by indistinct longitudinal furrows and 

 ridge-s. Fig. 89 shows the chief types of spicules. 



Locality. — OH' Malabar Coast, 36 fnis. 



A small, complete, simple colony, 27 cm. in length, from the Andamans, 

 also occure in the Indian Museum Littoral Collection. It is of a creamy- 

 white colour, and is almost uniform in thickness throughout ; it agrees in 

 detail with the lost sjjecimen from the Malabar Coast, except that each 

 tmnsvcree row has only one polyp or occasionally two polyps. The axis is of 

 a straw colour througliout. 



The spicules are identical with those described for the other specimens. 



Localiiij. — Andamans. 



Two slender colonies, of a creamy-white colour, with projecting wart-like 

 veiTucae. The smaller colony is complete, and is 39 cm. in lengtii ; it is 

 225 mm. in diameter near the base (without verrucae), and about the middle 

 of the colony ; tlie basal portion which is present is 47 cm. in lengtli. The 

 diameter at the base is 2"75 mm., while at the broken end it is 4 mm. 



The coenenchyma is granidar, and moderately thin ; it is creamy-white in 

 colour. 



Polyps do not occur for a considerable distance from the base ; thereafter 

 they are separated into two longitudinal series by iwo sinuous dt^iirtssions 



