I I 2 
I am inclined to look upon them as a general character of all Antipatharia, which however, 
under the influence of special conditions, may be entirely or almost unvisible, just like the 
longitudinal groove on the back of the polyps, as I repeatedly found as a cicatrice of the 
axis-formation. Roule himself remarks that these cross-grooves are absent on parts of a colony, 
while they are present on other parts of the same colony, so it is not a useful specific 
character. — The alternation of the large and the small polyps is irregular in Stick. Richardi 
R., as Roule describes and figures, without thinking, in this case, about a double type of 
polyps, although here it would have been also to the point, unless Roule has not thought 
about it since the smaller polyps in these colonies show a distinct difference in growth; the 
distribution of young polyps arid the , adult ones should in any case be left out of consideration. 
The likeness between both species seems to me large enough to permit, and even to 
require, a uniting of them into a species even when no further identification is permitted; I would 
prefer to name this species Stichopathes Richardi R., sooner than dissitnilis , since the latter name 
supposes as characteristic a non-existing quality. — The very different type of polyp permits of 
no comparison with Stichopathes gracilis (Gray) Brook. The likeness to Stichopathes filiformis 
(Gray) Brook is very great. In Brook’s description of Stick. Jiliformis the stem is slender and 
filiform, everywhere of equal thickness. The spines are conical with their distal side at 
right angles with the axis or slightly distally inclined; there are 6— 7 longitudinal rows of spines 
visible from one aspect in Brook's figures, their length is 400 u (deduced from Brook’s figures) 
while they are “one and a quarter to one and a half lengths apart”. Although the polyps are 
unknown, these data are so well in accordance with those of Roule’s species Stick. Richardi 
and dissimilis , that these three species ought to be combined under the name of Stichopathes 
fliformis (Br.) emend. The diagnosis of Stick, jiliformis should be emendated as follows : 
Colony : whip-like, of subequal diameter over its entire length, slender; 
sometimes increasing in diameter in the basal part. 
Spines : conical, at right angles with the axis, or slightly distally 
inclined, smooth(?); 4 — 8 longitudinal rows; length 200 — 400 u; mutual 
distance 300—500 p. (400—600 p. according to Brook). 
Polyps: interpolypar distance 1.5—3 mm.; sagitttal tentacles 1.25 — 2.25 
mm., lateral ones 0.8— 1.5 mm.; tentacles radiate, not covering the oral cone; 
especially the sagittal tentacles stand off from the axis; round mouth with 
crenated wall. 
7. Stichopathes abyssicola Roule. Roule is right in supposing that these specimens are 
not young colonies of Stick. Richardi R., although they are like each other, for, till now, 
there is no reason whatever to suppose that on younger colonies the polyps should be smaller 
than on older colonies. On the contrary: probably the dimensions of the polyps are always 
the same, while only the shape of the polyp may be somewhat altered by more or less room 
on the axis so that on younger colonies the polyps may be more elongated than on the older 
and larger colonies. — Besides in this case especially there is no reason to think about young 
colonies of Stick. Richardi R., since the smaller polyps, which then ought to have the same 
