1 5 
The spicules of the calyx are much more diverse than those figured and described by 
Professor Hickson. They include the following forms: 
(1) long spindles covered with numerous short, simple warts, agreeing with the figure in Professor 
Hickson’s 1894 paper. Maximum dimensions are 2.5 mm. X 0.17 mm. Some of the 
smaller spindles are almost smooth. 
(2) large spindles, some with bifid, trifid, or complexly branched ends. They are densely covered 
with compound warts which vary in size from comparatively small dimensions to large, 
outstanding, irregular projections which interlock with those of adjacent spicules. These 
spicules vary in length from 2.5 to 0.8 mm. and have an average breadth of 0.15 mm. 
(3) Especially interesting are irregular Telestid-like spicules often fused or interlocked, bearing 
a sparse number of compound warts and characterised by the irregular, smooth, branch¬ 
like projections, sometimes approaching an “antler’’ type. They strongly resemble the very 
distinctive forms found in some Telestos, especially those figured by Kolliker (. hones 
Histiologies 1895, p. 31) for Clavularia riisei , which is now regarded as a Telesto. The 
same type appears in the new species Hicksonia kollikeri , but was not found by Professor 
Hickson in his specimens of Clavularia viridis , where the spicules were much less variable. 
They would seem to indicate a not distant relationship between the genera Hicksonia 
and Telesto, already suggested by the general type of elongated “horny”, hard polyp. 
We have kept this interesting type in the same species as that of Professor Hickson’s 
C. viridis , agreeing with him that though the spicules are considerably more variable and more 
numerous, there are not sufficient grounds for creating a new species. It should, however, certainly 
be separated off into the new genus Hicksonia (Delage, Traite de Zool. Concrete, 1901) as it 
shows such a distinctive feature as Tubipora-like tubular connecting stolons at various levels. 
Specimens of Clavularia viridis obtained by Professor Hickson from Torres Straits and from 
the d’Entrecasteaux group, showed a spiculation nearer that of our specimens: large spindles 
with compound warts had the ends sometimes bifurcated. These bifurcated spicules were found 
by him to be most frequent in the d’Entrecasteaux specimens, less frequent in the more western 
Torres Straits specimens, and none were found in the still more Western Celebes specimens. 
Our specimens, however, do not fit in with this east-to-west “simplification”, as Saleyer is due 
south of Celebes. 
2. Hicksonia kdllikeri Dean. (Plate XII, Fig. 4, 5, 6; Plate XXII, Fig. 9). 
Stat. 19. 8°44 , .5 S., ii6°2 / .5E. 18 — 27 M. River-mud, coral, coral sand. 
Stat. 31. 8°47'.5 S., ii5°39 / .5E. 310 M. Hard, stone. 
Stat. 33. Bay of Pidjot, Lombok. 22 M. and less. Mud, coral and coral sand. 
Stat. 37. Sailus Ketjil, Paternoster-islands. 27 M. and less. Coral and coral sand. 
Stat. 58. Savu. Up to 27 M. Sand. 
Stat. 60. Haingsisi. Reef. 
Stat. 89. Kaniungan Ketjil. Reef. 
Stat. 131. Beo, Karakelang Islands. 13 M. Mud and sand. 
Stat. 142. Laiwui, Obi Major. Reef. 
Stat. 144. Damar. 45 M. Coral bottom and Lithothamnion. 
Stat. 163. Selee. 29 M. Sand and stone, mixed with mud. 
Stat. 215. Kabia-island. 701 M. Stone. 
