3 6 
into N. rubra , has colourless spicules. The colony is unbranched with a short sterile base and 
a polyp-bearing region closely covered with the low polyp calyces which give it a somewhat 
ridged appearance. The total height of the colony is 1.7 cm. and the average breadth is 5 mm. 
The calyces stand about 0.5 mm. in height and show faintly 8 furrows round the margin. Most 
of the polyps have their anthocodial portion completely contracted within the calyx, one or 
two are half expanded. All are very badly preserved; it was impossible to observe their 
spiculation, though a test showed that calcareous matter was present. The texture of the colony 
is firm, though it is difficult to say how much this is due to its rather dried condition. The 
colour of the specimen and of the spindles is a dull yellowish grey. 
The spicules are very numerous and show the following forms : 
(1) pointed spindles with relatively large outstanding warts. Average dimensions 0.2 mm. X 
0.02 mm.; 
(2) spindles very like (1) but longer, narrower and with smaller, simpler warts. Maximum length 
0.3 mm.; 
(3) small blunt-ended or pointed forms with 2 whorls of compound warts. Average dimensions 
o. 1 X 0.02 mm.; 
(4) several quadriradiates of various sizes. 
The colony bears some resemblance to N. grayi n. sp., but the spicules differ somewhat 
in form and still more in size. 
Another specimen from the same station has a total height of 2.3 cm. and a maximum 
diameter of 5 mm. The polyps are all firmly contracted and the calyces appear only as slight 
elevations over the upper surface of the colony. The spicules agree with those of the 
preceding specimen. 
The colour is creamy, slightly tinged with pink. The spicules are colourless or very 
faintly yellowish. 
Previously recorded from Hirudo Straits, Japan. 
5. Nidalia dtiriuscida n. sp. (Plate I, Fig. 8; Plate XXV, Fig. 6). 
Stat. 51. Molo Strait. From 69 — 91 M. Fine grey sand; coarse sand with shells. 1 Ex. 
Stat. 251. 5 0 28h4 S., I32 °o / . 2E. 204 M. Hard coral sand. 1 Ex. 
A stiff cream-yellow colony, from Station 251, 3.3 cm. in height, with a very short sterile 
portion (about 1 cm. in height), and a slightly expanded attachment. The whole colony shows 
about 50 slightly protruding calyces. 
The red polyps are retractile into yellow non-retractile 8-lobed calyces which are separated 
by intervals of 1—3 mm. The armature of the polyp consists of 4 — 6 rows of horizontally 
disposed spindles, above which there rise eight double points of rather smaller spindles, 3 or 4 
pairs in a point, sloping in chevron. The polyp spicules are ( a ) reddish, slightly bent or twisted 
spindles with relatively few low warts, and ( b ) the same type without colour. Common dimensions 
are : — 0.48 X 0.05 mm. ; 0.26 X 0.02. ( c ) Colourless straight spindles with larger simple or slightly 
compound warts; average dimensions, 0.21 X 0.04 mm. 
The densely packed cortical spicules resemble those figured by Kukenthal for A . dofieim \ 
