length by the influence of preservation and different contraction, but sometimes the shortest 
tentacles are at the same time the thinnest ones (fig. 137)- On one and the same colony the 
tentacles may be very different in length. — The deviations of this average type of polyps 
are the following: the cross-groove between the polyps may be very indistinct or entirely in¬ 
visible (fig. 137, 138). While the coenenchyma and the parts of the polyps are usually thick 
and not transparent, so that only the tops of the spines are visible 
(fig. 1 39), they may also be so very transparent as to make it difficult 
Fig. 139. stichopatlies variabilis to discern the parts of the polyps ; in the latter case the spines are 
much better visible. Sometimes the polyps are so thin, especially the 
transparent parts, that the spines lift them very high, as is to be remarked in fig. 140, where a 
spine is projected very far from the oral cone, after the manner of Brook’s genus Apham- 
pathes. — Usually the tentacles are arranged in a radiate manner, but 
on the thinner parts of the colony the tentacles are arranged in two 
parallel rows (fig. 139, the left polyp). Some colonies have a great 
Fig. 140 . Stuhopathcs variabilis t f ^ stem (the basal part) covered with coenenchyma without 
spines; 14 X- polyps, but there are no facts to be observed, which throw light upon 
this degeneration of the polyps. — The oral cone of the polyps on some colonies shows 12 
opaque, white, longitudinal stripes, alternating 
with colourless transparent stripes (fig. 141); 
this is especially conspicuous when the entire 
Fig- I 4 I- Stichopatlies variabilis n. n. Polyps; H -3 X- polyp j s transparent, as is described above 
for some specimens. The oral cone may be very broad, as is figured in figs. 131 a, 132#, but 
may also be less conspicuous. 
From the same station comes a second group, which is much smaller and contains only 
six specimens, three of which have a spiral colony, two a partly spiral colony and one is irregularly 
curved. The general habitus of the colony, the dimensions of the spines and the polyps agree 
with the preceding group, although with a smaller breadth of variability, as might be expected. 
Fig. 142. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. Arrangement of the spines; Fig. 143. Stichopatlies variabilis n. n. 
52 Xi the superficial roughness is omitted. Spines on opposite sides of the 
axis; 52 X- 
The length of the colony is max. 3 dm. ; 4 specimens show an increasing diameter in their 
basal part. The diameter of the spiral coils is 1 — 5.5 cm., and the distance between the coils 
is 2.5—9 cm. In 4 specimens there are 7 longitudinal rows of spines; one has 6 rows and 
one 5 rows; the rows always alternate in a quincunx (fig. 142). The length of the spines 
is from 150 p to 450 p. for the longer spines, and from 100 p. to 160 p. for the shorter 
