I 20 
my opinion about the very great variability of the species under discussion and the grouping 
together which results from this. — Diagnosis : cf. the diagnosis of Stichopathes gracilis (Gray) 
in the critical review of Stichopathes- species on p. 105. 
3. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Stichopathes filiformis (Gray) Br. Silberfeld, Jap. Antipatharien, p. 15; non of other authors, 
var. asperispina var. n. 
Stat. 7. 7° 55 -5 S., ii4°26' E. Near Batjulmati (Java). 15 M. and more. Coral and stones. 5 spec. 
Stat. 53. Bay of Nangamessi (Sumba). Up to 36 M. Coral sand. 4 spec. 
Stat. 77. 3 0 27' S., ii7°36'E. Borneo-bank. 59 M. Fine coralsand. 4 spec. 
Stat. 173. 3‘°27'.oS., i3i°o'.5E. Ceram-sea. 567 M. Fine, yellow grey mud. 1 spec. 
Stat. 204. 4 0 20' S., 122 0 58'E. Between islands of Wowoni and Buton. 75 — 94 M- Sand with 
dead shells. 1 spec. 
Stat. 213. Anchorage off Saleyer. Up to 36 M. Mud and mud with sand. 66 spec. 
Stat. 260. 5°36'.5S., I32°55'.2E. Near Kei-islands. 90 M. Sand, coral and shells. 1 spec. 
var. lissispina var. n. 
Stat. 47. Bay of Bima. 55 M. Mud with patches of fine coral sand. 1 spec. 
Stat. 240. Banda. From 9— 45 M. Black sand, coral, Lithothamnion. 41 spec. 
var. longispina var. n. 
Stat. 50. Bay of Badjo, Flores. Up to 40 M. Mud, sand and shells. 1 spec. 
Stat. 51. Molo-strait. 69—91 M. Fine grey sand, coarse sand with shells and stones. 1 spec. 
Stat. 184. South coast of Manipa-island. 36 M. Coral, sand. 1 spec. 
Stat. 313. Saleh-bay, East of Dangar Besar. Up to 36 M. Sand, coral and mud. 2 spec. 
Stat. 318. 6°36'.5S., II4°55'.5E. 88 M. Fine, yellowish grey mud. 3 spec. 
var. longispina var. n., subvar. lissispina sv. n. 
Stat. 33. Labuan Tring (Fombok). 22 M. and less. Mud, coral and coralsand. 1 spec. 
Stat. 50. Bay of Badjo, Flores. Up to 40 M. Mud, sand and shells. 1 spec. 
Stat. 64. Tanah Djampeah, Kambaragi-bay. Up to 32 M. Coral and coralsand. 1 spec. 
var. lissispina minor var. n. 
Stat. 64. Tanah Djampeah, Kambaragi-bay. Up to 32 M. Coral and coralsand. 14 spec. 
Stat. 117. i°o'.5 S., 122 0 56'E. Entrance of Kwandang-bay, Celebes. 80 M. Sand and coral. 
50 spec. 
The following specimens were divided by me in numerous species, in the preliminary 
sifting of the material, nearly as numerous as there were stations on which they were found. 
For the description I have examined each colony accurately, since soon it was obvious that 
there was a very great variability, so great in fact that it was desirable to unite the species, 
which were separated at first. Since my opinion on the great variability, i. a. of the characte¬ 
ristics of the spines and the shape of the colony, and therefore the combining of various, formerly 
described species in this genus as well as in other genera, is principally based on the data 
