450 '^^^ Philippine Journal of Science i9is 



(c) Canal-wall spicules: 



(1) Spindles: 0.2 by 0.098; 0.18 by 0.087; 0.171 by 0.114; 0.133 



by 0.095; 0.144 by 0.095. 



(2) Double headed forms: 0.087 by 0.064; 0.1 by 0.06; 0.08 by 0.06. 



(d) Base spicules: 



(1) Spindles: 0.19 by 0.098; 0.19 by 0.08 0.17 by 0.133; 0.16 by 

 0.072; 0.16 by 0.095. 



The canals of the stem and main branches are very small 

 with thick walls. The center of the stem contains a large 

 irregular axis containing many spicules which is pierced by 

 a few very small canals. 



Color, uniform olive-green with a grayish tinge. 



Type specimen No. C. 297 in the zoological museum of the 

 University of the Philippines, 



I have only a single specimen of this very distinct species col- 

 lected by Griffin at Sabong Cove, Mindoro. It is much the largest 

 specimen of the genus in the collection and in fact the largest 

 yet reported. While its general appearance, the shape of its 

 polyps, and its spiculation make it impossible to consider it 

 as other than a species of Capnella, yet the fact that the polyps 

 are scattered singly on the branches and twigs and the presence 

 of a large and very distinct central axis in the stem and main 

 branches are characters which do not agree exactly with the 

 system of classification given by Kiikenthal (1903) in his re- 

 vision of the family Nephthyidse ^ and would seem to necessitate 

 a revision of the generic diagnosis. 



In having a central axis it approaches in common with many 

 of the colonies of Capnella philippinensis and particularly those 

 of C. p. var. albida, the genus Scleronephthya Wr. and St. It 

 differs very decidedly from this genus, however, in its spic- 

 ulation and in that the polyps are scattered singly over the 

 branches and twigs and not typically arranged in little groups 

 as in Scleronephthya. 



Because of these characters I propose the following diagnosis 

 of the genus Capnella: 



The colony is upright, tree-like or bushy; the nonretractile 

 polyps, without a "Stiitzbiindel," are grouped on lobes or scat- 

 tered singly on branches and twigs, and are thickly covered with a 

 coat, usually one spicule deep, of minute foliaceous clubs or clubs 



• This helpful and basic work has greatly facilitated my research in 

 the family Nephthyidse, and every worker in this group must feel grateful 

 for the order which Doctor Kiikenthal has brought from the chaos of poorly 

 defined and incorrectly named genera and species. 



