io8 
2. Stichopathes ? desbonni D. & M. The most characteristic quality of this species is 
that it has its spines arranged in verticils. Since this species grows in groups, of a dozen 
colonies each, the number ol specimens is large enough not to see a casual arrangement in 
these verticils. Although the rest of the description is very vague, I am inclined to keep this 
species intact for the present; especially since the polyps are entirely unknown, the specific 
diagnosis is rather vague. The character of the stem, given by Brook as: “hollow near the 
apex”, is a character which holds good for every Antipatharian. The diagnosis is: 
Colony: slender, straight or slightly curved, but never spiral; length 
max. 70 cm. with a basal diameter of 1.5 mm. 
Spines: 10 longitudinal rows; mutual distance 330 p.; triangular, dis¬ 
tal 1 y inclined, or a blunt cone at right angles with the axis; smooth 
s urface?. 
Polyps: unknown. 
3. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. (= Silberfeld’s spec, of Stichopathes Jiliformis 
Gray). I am of opinion that Silberfeld’s specimen of Stichopathes jiliformis (Gray) Brook 
should be made into a new species, since the identification of this specimen with Brook’s 
specimen is not well possible. It is a pity, as is the case in more descriptions of Silberfeld, 
that the length and the diameter of the colony are not given, since the proportion of both is 
important enough for the habitus of the colony, although perhaps the absolute measures them¬ 
selves can not be used as specific differences. In contrast with the everywhere equal diameter, 
as Brook describes it for Stichopathes filiformis , Silberfeld’s specimen is of a very unequal 
thickness, at one time diminishing regularly, at another increasing for some distance in higher 
parts of the colony, at another diminishing swiftly, just as I have described in a large group of 
the Siboga-material (cf. Stichopathes variabilis n. n.), but never in all parts subequal in diameter. — 
The spines are arranged in a somewhat smaller number of rows (6—7); they are shorter, viz. 
1 7 5 ! J - max -; they are of different length on opposite sides of the axis; their mutual distance 
is much less, viz. 225—325 p, which value however, measured after my method, would be 
somewhat larger (± 400— 425 p>), but in any case much below the value in Brook’s figures. 
The spines may have a forked apex, which is not mentioned by Brook, who in other cases 
paid attention to this characteristic, as is demonstrated by his description of Stichopathes gracilis 
Gray. From all this I conclude that it will be better to make a new species of Silberfeld’s 
specimen, and call it Stichopathes variabilis n. n. The diagnosis is: 
Colony: slender, partly spiral, sometimes at once diminishing in dia¬ 
meter, or sometimes with increasing diameter; otherwise regularly tapering. 
Spines: triangular, with their distal side at right angles with the axis, 
or distally inclined; smooth (?); 6—7 longitudinal rows, length max. 175 p, 
sometimes different on opposite sides of the axis; mutual distance 400 — 
425 ij. (?). Sometimes forked apex. 
Polyps: in one series, which sometimes is spiral in its course; i liter- 
poly par distance 1.5 mm. Lateral tentacles equal in length. Well-developed 
