354 COLLECTIONS FBOM MELANESIA. 



32 millim., consists of a strongly flattened, rather undulating portion, 

 with a midrib 1 to 2 millim. thick running longitudinally down its 

 middle, on each side of which the edges are drawn out so as to 

 form a double-edged knife-like ending, with a maximum breadth of 

 7 millim. ; above, this is united to the hollowed, zooid-bearing part 

 by a cylindrical portion, 20 millim. long and 3 millim. in maximum 

 thickness, apparently solid. Only 10 miUim. from the commence- 

 ment of the zooid-bearing part, a strong tubular branch is given off, 

 and another on the same side only 4 miUim. further up the ter- 

 minal tube, which is considerably bent to one side, and constitutes 

 with the last mentioned branch a true bifurcation, which thus takes 

 place at only 14 millim. from the commencement of the functionally 

 , active section of tSe colony. 



The colony is thus manifestly young, for the stem is 65 millim. 

 long, while the zooid-bearing part is only 40 millim. long and carries 

 near the end of each of its branches one or more narrow spatular 

 or grooved processes from 8 to 15 millim. in length, recalling those 

 which attain so great a development (up to 10 centim. long, Studer) 

 in S. grayi, Studer, and in S. (Solenogorgia) tuhulosct, Genth. The 

 maximum antero-posterior diameter of the tubular part of the colony 

 is only 8 millim. The verrucee form a single row on each side of 

 the tubes and spatulate processes. The colour differs from that of 

 the type specimen of the species in being a dull pale orange, with 

 dark purplish verrucse, whereas in that specimen it is for the most 

 part (in its present dry condition) a dull umber-brown with a tint 

 of red, with a reddish lateral band including the verrucas. The 

 length of the spatulate processes does not appear to me sufficient to 

 show any close connection with S. grayi ; and as the spicules agree 

 essentially with those of the type of S. tortuosum, I retain that name 

 for this specimen as well. 



As Studer's account of the spiculation of the species appears 

 erroneous in some points, I give herewith the results of an exam- 

 ination of the type specimen. Cortical spicules : — (i.) Clavate or 

 excentrically fusiform, covered with coarse, prominent, cylindrical 

 tubercles, often roughened terminally ; size of spicule '21 to -39 by 

 •06 to -12. (ii.) Superficial, short, broad, cylindrical, with about 3 

 rude whorls of very prominent ragged tubercles ;' size of spicule about 

 •14 by '07 millim. [thi^ spicule is not figured by Studer for the species, 

 but a very similar form is given by him as the axial spicule of S. grayi, 

 under which species is also figured one which differs from (ii.) mainly 

 in having simpler tubercles]. The white chalky axial mass consists 

 mainly, if not exclusively, of (iii.) long cylindricals with rounded 

 ends, bearing sharp-pointed tubercles at considerable intervals ; size 

 of spicule about -38 by '035 miUim. The external longitudinal 

 verrucse-spicules (iv.) are irregularly fusiform or cylindrical, strongly 

 roughened by prominent closely-set tubercles, and measure about 

 •18 by -07 millim. ; towards the mouth of the verruca these pass 

 into irregular flattened or styliform bodies about -14 millim. long 

 by -017 millim. broad, (v.) The horizontal spicules of the verrucse 

 are fusiform, tapering gracefully to rounded points, more or less 

 curved ; .they bear numerous small, smooth, and rounded tubercles 



