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On comparing these characteristics with Stichopathes Richardi Roule, we find that the 
shape of the colony is the same as in Stichopathes dissimilis R., as is very conspicuous on 
Roule ’s PL I, where both species are figured next to and over each other in a very beautiful 
and clear manner. Roule himself describes the colonies of Stick. Richardi R. as short and 
thick, compared with the othei species, but this difference is not very great, since he remarks 
himself that the length of the colony may be 6 dm. with a greatest diameter of 1.5 _1.75 mm., 
while Stich. dissimilis is 0.55 m. long with a greatest diameter of 1.75 mm. (these data are 
deduced from Roule s figure 2 on his PI. II, since he himself does not make mention of the 
basal diameter). Beside the fact that this difference is not worth mentioning, after this comparison 
Stick, dissimilis would be rather the shortest and thickest type, but it will be better to look 
upon these not very diverging measurements as variants of an average value. — The basal 
plate of Stichopathes Richardi is granulated, but in my opinion the shape of a basal plate is 
no characteristic quality, since I remarked in various Siboga-species that the shape of this 
plate is entirely dependent on the accidental underground, the irregular parts of which are 
followed by the basal plate, with a thin horny layer. — The spines, which are of the same 
shape as in Stick, dissimilis R., are arranged in 7—8 longitudinal rows; they are 200 _ 300 u. 
long, with a mutual distance of 300 — 330 y. These data are not very different from those of 
Stick, dissimilis R., especially on keeping in view the very great variability of these dimensions 
in othei described species. It is true that the number of longitudinal rows is much Greater 
but on one and the same colony Roule himself finds a much smaller number of rows, viz. 4 _6, 
which not only demonstrates the great variability of this character, but which also shows how 
the extreme values of Stick. Richardi R. are as far above as they are below the normal number 
of rows in Stick, dissimilis R. The distribution of the spines in Stick. Richardi R. is more 
regular than in Stich. dissimilis R. but on the value of the greater or smaller regularity of 
the distribution of the spines I have given my opinion when discussing Stich. dissimilis R. — 
The polyps of Stick. Richardi R. are very much like those of Stich. dissimilis , as is demonstrated 
by the figures of Roule himself, especially on his PI. I (14), where both colonies are figured; on both 
colonies the habitus of the polyps is absolutely similar. The dimensions are slightly different, 
but it is possible that the preservation exerts a certain influence upon the length of the tentacles 
and such data, for on one and the same colony of other species I often found polyps with 
very long and with very short tentacles (cf. Stick. ■Mriahilis). The opinion that the preservation 
is the principal reason of this different length is confirmed by the fact that the ratio 
between the sagittal and lateral tentacles in Stich. dissimilis R. is 1.25 : 0.8 = 1.56, while this 
same ratio in Stick. Richardi R. is 2.25 : 1.50 = 1.50, and so is different in the second 
decimal only. — The polyps of Stich. Richardi R. are somewhat more crowded than in Stich. 
dissimilis R.; in the former the interpolypar distance is 1.5 mm., in the latter 2 to 3 mm. 
according to Roule. But on verifying these data on Roule’s PL VI and VII (14), where the polyps 
are figured enlarged, we find for Stick. Richardi R. an interpolypar distance of over 1.5 mm. 
and for Stick, dissimilis R. nearer 2 than 3 mm., so that also this difference is not very 
great, referring to the individual variability in other species. — The stripes or grooves between 
the polyps of Stick. Richardi R. are found by me on many colonies of other species, so that 
