I2 5 
is no great difference, or none at all, in length between the proximal and the distal pair of 
lateial tentacles, but all the lateral ones are shorter than the sagittal ones. The tentacles are 
Fig- 13 1 - Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Polyps: a on the middle part of a colony; 
b % c on the top-part; a, 3 , c 11.3 )(, 
Fig- I 3 2 - Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Polyps: a oral view; b lateral view; 
a, b 7.6 X- 
cylindrical in shape and have no swollen base, but rather a basal constriction. The oral cone 
is large but not veiy high (fig. 132^); the mouth is round, and often indistinct, while the 
Fig. 134. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Polyps; 7.6X5 the spines are figured partly. 
margin of the mouth is folded. — Between the polyps the cross-groove is plainly visible, especially 
on the back of the axis (fig. 133). Young polyps are distributed irregularly between the adult 
ones (figs. 134, 135). — The intertentacular distance is rather variable, from 0.9 mm. to 2.5 
mm. (the latter value in fig. 136) and is rather constant on one and the same colony; mostly 
Fig. 135. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. Fig. 136. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Polyps; 7-6 X- Polyps; 11.3 X- 
Fig. 133 - Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
The back of the axis with interzooidal grooves; 11.3 X- 
an average mutual distance of 1.3 mm. is found. — The length of the tentacles is very variable, 
probably influenced by the preservation; the length of the sagittal tentacles is from 0.6 mm. 
to 2.8 mm.; an instance of very short tentacles is given in fig. 137, of very long tentacles in 
figs. 132 and 138. In accordance with this the lateral tentacles vary to the same high degree, 
Fig. 137. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. Fig. 138. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Polyps; 8.6 X- Polyps; 7.6 X- 
from 0.4 mm. to 1.3 mm. When the tentacles are short, they are often at their thickest, and 
when they are long, at their thinnest, so that it is possible to explain this difference in 
