Fig. 145. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. Back of the axis, 
with encircling tentacles; 7.6 X. 
spines. All the spines are shaped like fig. 117, but the short spines are sometimes more acute 
(fig. 143). One of the colonies bears, only on its basal part, the remarkable long spines (type 
fig. 120 or more straight); the curved top is smooth, just like the base. The mutual distance 
of the spines is with 5 specimens 450 p, but with the long-spined specimens 375 _ 600 p. 
The polyps are of the general type of the preceding group (cf. figs. 130, 133, 144). 
The interpolypar distance is 1 —1.5 mm.; the sagittal 
tentacles are 1 —1.5 mm. long, the lateral ones 0.5 — 0.8 
mm. On one colony the row of polyps is wound in a 
spiral round the axis. — The specimen with the very 
long spines on its basal part has 6 — 7 polyps, all of 
which have very long and thin tentacles, curved round the axis (fig. 145), while the polyps on 
the higher part of the colony are of the normal 
type of fig. 130. The length of the tentacles 
of the basal polyps is more than 2 mm. ; this 
diverging specimen is also the colony, which 
has only 5 longitudinal rows of spines. This 
specimen, conspicuous by having long spines, 
in 5 rows, and long tentacles, would, if it were the only discovered specimen from this station, 
have been made into a new species, but now it is connected with the other specimens by a 
colony, which has on its base somewhat larger tentacles than the normal type. 
A specimen found in the same station has a partly spiral colony, an increasing diameter 
in its basal part, a swiftly diminishing diameter on some parts of the axis, with a change in 
the type of spines, etc. There are 6 longitudinal rows, but there are also parts of the colony 
which bear only 5 or even 4 rows, without connection with the top of the colony, for parts 
with 4 rows are followed distally by parts with 6 rows. The type of spine (fig. 126) lies within 
the limits of the variability of the first great group of Saleyer. The same holds good for the 
length of the spines (135 p and 330 p), the mutual distance of the spines (750 p) and the typical 
doubling of the spines. The polyps are 
very much like reduced polyps out of 
the great group (fig. 146). The oral cone 
has almost disappeared ; all parts are 
very thin and transparent. Sometimes the 
tentacles are arranged as in fig. 131^, in a crowded group. — The 
interpolypar distance is 1.5 — 1.75 mm. — The 
longitudinal groove along the back of the colony 
is very clearly visible. 
Three other colonies, from the same station, 
agree with the general type of the great group. There are always 7 longi¬ 
tudinal rows; length of the spines: 120—165 p for the long ones and 
75 — io 5 p. for the short spines. Mutual distance usually 525 p, but this may diminish to 375 p. 
The type of spines (fig. 147) agrees very well with the great group. The polyps are completely 
Fig. 146. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Polyps; 15.75 X- 
Fig. 147. Stichopathes variabilis n. n. 
Spines : a on the base of a colony; b on 
a higher part; c on the thickest part; 
d on the top-half; b , r, d 52 X- 
Fig. 148. Stichopathes 
variabilis n. n. Polyp ; 
15-75 X- 
