118 
may alternate in a quincunx, but a more irregular distribution and doubling of the spines is 
sometimes also present. In this top-part the spines are more distally inclined and more acute 
than in the basal part of the colony ; the surface of the spines is 
- 
slightly granulated. The double spines have a mutual base which 
-> A bT/XTve ^ i s darker in colour and somewhat swollen. 
Fig. 10S. Sticliopathes gracilis (Gray) 
em. Polyps; 3 X- 
The polyps (figs. 108, 109) are arranged in a single series, 
at an intertentacular distance of 2.5 — 3 mm. They are very crowded 
and only on the lower parts of the colony there is 0.5 — 1 mm. 
coenenchyma visible between the base of the tentacles of neighbouring polyps. Some young 
polyps are inserted between the adult ones 
but not alternating regularly. — The sa¬ 
gittal tentacles are inserted at a lower level 
than the lateral ones. The sagittal tentacles 
are more than 1 mm. long; the proximal 
Fig. 109. Stichopathes gracilis (Gray) em. Polyps; 7.6 X- lateral ones 2 mm., the distal lateral ones 
1 mm. The proximal pair is much more heavily built than the distal pair and also inclined distally 
in a higher degree than the distal pair which is nearly at right angles with the axis. In this 
manner the tops of the lateral tentacles are lying against each 
other, so as to cover the mouth and oral cone entirely. The 
proximal pair clearly shows cross-folds. The base of the tentacles 
is swollen, and there is a rather sharply defined cylindrical apex. 
The other specimen, broken in three parts, is 1.15 m. 
long and is curved in irregular curves and half-spiralcoils, 
especially in the upper part. The base is 5 mm. thick, with 
a slightly broader basal plate. The axis gradually tapers towards 
the top which is broken at a diameter of 1.75 mm. At various 
heights curves occur at obtuse angles and also knobs. 
The spines (figs. 110, 111 ) are conical with an elliptical 
base and an obtuse apex, at right angles with the axis or slightly distally inclined. Doubling 
of the spines occurs in various degrees; the top of the 
spines is granulated, the base is smooth. The shorter spines 
are more granulated ; they are more blunt and inclined 
distally to a higher degree. The longest spines (230 p) are 
to be found on the polypbearing side of the axis; the shortest 
spines on the opposite side are 130 p long. The mutual 
distance varies and is max. 420 to 500 p. At the base of 
the colony the spines are much shorter; occasionally a longer 
spine may be found between them but here the longest are 
only 75 p, while the shorter spines have nearly disappeared. — The distribution of the spines 
is nowhere regular; some parts show for a short space some longitudinal rows (zt 6). A great 
part of the colony is covered with polyps (fig. 112), inserted in a single series at an interten- 
a Spines on the base of the colony; b arran¬ 
gement of the spines on the base of the colony ; 
a 52 Xi b 7.6 X- 
Fig. ill. Stichopatkes gracilis (Gray) em. 
Spines on the top of the colony; 52 X- 
