7 « 
Nephthyiden, 1904, p. 120; and Alcyonaria des Roten Meeres, 1913, p. 15),-but the spiculation 
shows very different and characteristic features. The total height of the colony is 4 cm. with a 
maximum basal diameter of 2.7 cm. and a spread of 2.4 X 4.5 cm. 
The rigid stem early divides (at a height of about 9 mm.) into numerous stout more or 
less upright branches which may again divide. At the summit are found the polyp-bearing 
lappets which are densely crowded, but more elongated and less cauliflower-like than the flattened 
lappets of L. brassica , being up to 1 cm. high and 4 mm. broad. The polyps are very small 
and closely set, up to 6 or 7 in a line of 5 mm. They are about 0.35 mm. in breadth and 
project almost at right angles, up to about 0.4 mm. beyond the level of the lappet. 
The spicules include ( a ) numerous smooth sharply pointed spindles with few warts, up 
to 0.4mm. long and 0.2mm. broad; (b) a few small more warty crescents; and (r) crescents 
with two large basal warts approaching a quadriradiate, with an average maximum breadth of 
0.09 mm.; (d) numerous and most characteristic small sculptured scale-like forms, often with two 
median zones of flat simple prominences, but many with more numerous and irregularly arranged 
warts. Dimensions, up to 0.11 mm. in length and 0.015 mm. in breadth. These are found in 
the tentacles and also in the rind of the lappets, (e) Interesting small forms intermediate between 
a normal spindle and a scale type. In some of these the spicule has the scale-like (d) dimensions, 
but the whole spicule is more rod-like and rounded, with the dark sculpturing confined to the 
warty zones and tips. In others, one half of the small spicule is spindle-like, rounded and 
unsculptured, while the other half is flattened, sculptured and scale-like. 
Sculptured scales are, of course, very frequent in the tentacles of Lemnalia species, but 
we have never before seen them in such profusion and lying densely in the actual rind of the lappet. 
Genus Umbellulifera n. g. 
There are in the collection a number of specimens belonging to the Family Nephthyidae, 
which we cannot include in any described genus of that Family. In some respects they approach 
Eunephthya, while in others they seem to point to Dendronephthya. We have been compelled 
to establish a new and annectent genus, Umbellulifera, which helps to bridge the gap between 
these two genera. In this new genus we would include Paraspongodes striata Thomson and 
Henderson, which has been the subject of much uncertainty ever since it was described. As 
we agree with Kukenthal’s suggestion that Paraspongodes striata is “almost certainly identical” 
with his Dendronephthya umbellulifera , Kukenthal’s species must also be referred to our new 
genus, under the specific name striata , since the description of Paraspongodes striata has the 
priority. The new genus should include also Lithophytum graeffei Kiikenthal and a new species 
Umbellulifera petasites here described. 
All the specimens differ from Dendronephthya in : 
(1) the general softness of the whole colony and much greater degree of contractility ; 
(2) the mode of branching, with cauliflower-like umbellate branches in the sharply defined polyparium; 
(3) the fact that although the polyps are grouped in umbels at the ends of the twigs, they are 
never arranged in bundles within these umbels; 
(4) the complete absence of anything approaching a definite supporting bundle; 
