154 Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 
spicules on the surfaces of the polyps are situated closely adjoining one another, 
and usually with their long axes parallel with the long axis of the polyp ; they 
apparently tend to become broader towards the polyp-base. At the apex the 
arrangement of the spicules produces an 8-rayed appearance when the oral 
aperture is open, but in the closed or retracted condition the spicules are 
folded down with the ectoderm, and thus completely protect the internal 
parts of the polyp, one of the marked features of this species being the 
efficient protection of the polyps. The antliocodiae were retracted in all 
cases ; this part also has spicules, but of quite a different character, namely, 
they are mostly long, simple spindles with small processes, but some are 
club-like ; the largest are about 0-40 x 0-03. The specimen appears to 
Fig. 1. — Spicules of Scleranthelia mu$iva, Studer. 
agree well with Wright and Studer' s definition of Studer' s genus Scleran- 
thelia, and the figure of a spicule as given by Studer is similar to some of 
the characteristic spicules of my forms. 
The genus Scleranthelia was first placed by Studer (1878) among the 
Clavulariidae ; later Hickson and Schenk classified it as an Alcyonid, while 
May regarded it as belonging to the family Telestidae. At a later period 
(1890) Studer emphasised his original statement that Scleranthelia belongs 
to the family Clavulariidse, and his original idea is apparently correct that it 
affords some measure of transition between the Clavulariidae and the 
Telestidae. This view is apparently now also held by Kiikenthal. 
Locality, etc. — Pieter Faure," No. 13165. Cape Morgan, K \ W. lOf 
miles. Depth, 77 fathoms. Collected by dredge. Nature of bottom, rock 
and broken shells. Date of collection, July 26, 1901. 
