140 
var. longispina sub-var. lissispina. 
Spines: shaped as in var. longispina but less distally inclined, especially as 
to the top of the spines. Surface entirely smooth. The longest spines are 
3x5—360 y. , the shortest spines are 105 — 150 y. ; the mutual distance is 525—750 y. 
(usually ± 650 y.). Number of longitudinal rows 4 — 6. 
var. lissispina minor. 
Spines: shaped as in var. aspenspma but the surface of the spines is prac¬ 
tically smooth. The longest spines are 98 y., the shortest spines are 28 y. ; mutual 
distance 420 — 560 u .; number of longitudinal rows 5 — 7. 
The here described material of Stichopathes vanabilis is used by me in making variability- 
curves for several characters, i. a. for the mutual distance of the spines, the number of 
longitudinal rows, the length of the spines (choosing only the longest spines), etc. My intention 
was to get an indication, through eventual multimodal curves, in what manner the rather 
intricate material might be arranged in local species or varieties. The result was rather unsatis¬ 
factory; only the lengths of the spines gave a multimodal curve; one of its tops was found 
at the length of 140—160 y., while a secondary lower top was lying in the neighbourhood 
of 320 — 340 y.; on comparing the length of the,spines with var. asperispina and with var. 
longispina this multimodal curve is quite comprehensible, although it should be kept in mind 
that in the tracing of the curve the rough or smooth surface of the spines of other varieties 
is not taken into account, and more of such characters which would have altered the curve, 
probably in a high degree. — On choosing only the smooth spines, by which method however 
the material is so very diminished in quantity as to make it properly speaking nearly unavailable 
for the tracing of reliable curves, I g'ot a multimodal curve with a top at 160 200 y., so at 
an average of 180 y. as I found for var. lissispina , and a top at 360 — 400 y., which is in 
good accordance with the average of 375 y. for var. longispina. Although the curves gave no 
conclusive proof of the division in species and varieties, it is neither possible to use them as 
arguments against my division in varieties. 
4. Stichopathes semiglabra sp. n. 
Stat. 47. Bay of Bima. 55 M. Mud with patches of fine coral sand. 4 spec. 
Stat. 204. 4°2o'S., 122 0 58'E. Between islands of Wowoni and Buton. 75 — 94 M. Sand with 
dead shells. 5 spec. 
From these colonies the longest one is 54.5 cm., with a basal diameter of 100 y., but 
this diameter increases exceedingly and is 540 y. on a height of 7 cm. above the base; the 
further part of the colony tapers gradually. T his same character is also found in the other 
three colonies. — Except for the first part of the colony which is nearly straight for a distance 
of ± 1 dm., the colonies are wound in a loose sinistrorsal spiral, consisting in three coils with a 
variable diameter; the stem is always slender, as is the top. On some parts of the colony the 
diameter diminishes swiftly, while the thicker parts of the axis sometimes bear warts (fig. 188T). 
Therefore in many points the colonies are very much like those of Stichopathes vanabilis. 
