KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 51. N:o Il. 59 
the characteristic shape of the spicules in the bark of the branches. The lower part of 
the anthocodia is without spicules, and the specimen described by KUKENTHAL is of a 
transparent nature. 
General Distribution: 
Spitzbergen, Recherche Bay, 40 met., clay, I sp. (KUKENTHAL, 1906 b.). Siberean 
Sea, 51 met. (KUKENTHAL, 1910). 
Gersemia clavata (DAN.) var. truncata n. var. 
Diagnosis: Branches very short with anthocodiae closely packed. "The point of 
the trunk is occupied by large groups of anthocodiae. The spicules of the branch bark 
(basal spicules) club-shaped in places. (PI. I, fig. 3.) 
In the collection of the Swedish State Museum are to be found a number of speci- 
mens which are undoubtedly &G. clavata, but which differ very considerably as regards 
the shape of their colony and their armature, so that I have distinguished them from 
the above, as a variety of Gersemia clavata. 
Some of the specimens have been brought from Spitzbergen (PI. I, fig. 3). These 
colonies attain a height of, at most, 4 cm. and have few, short branches. The trunk is 
evident, and the branches, which are widely scattered, bear closely packed anthocodiae 
on the points. It is characteristic of the variety that the point of the trunk is always 
occupied by a large collection of anthocodiae. These attain a length of 5 mm. When 
they are closely packed, a formation of calyx usually results. Here and there on the 
trunk lie solitary anthocodiae. 'The trunk and branches are hyaline. 
The armature recalls, in many respects, that of G. clavata. ”The spicules of the branch 
bark are very large and powerfully thorned (Fig. 12 d); the spicules in the lower part of 
the anthocodia are arranged in regular rows. In the upper part of the anthocodia the 
spicules are placed in 8 double rows, which, towards the lower part of the anthocodia, 
pass into a transverse wreath, which resolves itself at once into the regular row in the 
shaft of the anthocodia. The spicules have a little incurvation in the middle, are broad 
and long-thorned, and have a length of up to 0.35 mm. The spicules in the lower part 
of the anthocodia are spindles and rods with transitions both towards those of the upper 
part and towards the spicules of the branch bark, with a clear incurvation in the middle, 
the thorns lie close together. These spicules vary from 0.2 to 0.3 mm. in length. In the 
branch bark lie spindles or club-shaped spicules with uniformly and closely arranged 
thorns, about 015.—0.28 mm. long. In the upper part of the trunk lie scattered spicules, 
varying in length from 0.1 to 0.18 mm., of about the same type as those of the branch 
bark. In the lower part of the trunk are found spicules somewhat smaller in length, 
or about 0.11 mm., with but few thorns. The inner coenenchym has small irregular spi- 
cules. Tentacles with numerous spindles and rods, placed in one row and measuring 
0:04—0:15 mm., are found. 
With regard to the canal system, it is of interest to note that the direct connection 
in the points of branches and trunks is strongly developed, and the indirect, endodermal 
