86 
Two colonies from Station 299, of a brownish-cream colour, with conical lappets, entirely 
covered with polyps. The largest stands 7.5 cm. high with a spread of about 5 cm. From the 
base there arise four sterile branches which carry the polyp-bearing branches. We include these 
in the species N. erecta on the following general grounds : ( a ) the polyp armature, often far 
from distinct, shows abaxial and lateral chevron rows with 3—4 pairs in each row, and an 
irregular adaxial disposition of spindles ; [ 5 ] the supporting bundle is of the ensheathing type, 
and though strong rarely projects; (c) the predominant spicules are warty spindles and the lower 
part of the cortex bears irregular knobbed and slightly foliate forms, some of which might be 
called stars. It seems to us that to make the diagnosis of N. erecta slightly elastic is more 
useful than to multiply species. 
A young colony of a yellowish-white colour, rising to a height of 3 cm., of which the 
sterile stalk occupies 1.5 cm. The lobes are conical and rounded (sic); the supporting bundle 
projects only slightly, but is strongly built. Very characteristic is the abundance of irregular 
very warty stars towards the base of the surface of the sterile stalk. Higher up the superficial 
spicules are warty spindles often transversely disposed. The spicules include: (1) numerous very 
warty spindles, straight and curved, often unsymmetrical with larger roughnesses on the convex 
side; (2) swollen irregular clubbed forms with prominent thorns; (3) large curved spindles with 
minute conical prominences closely crowded ; (4) very irregular strongly-warted forms, some of 
which may be called stars. 
If Kukenthal’s diagnostic scheme be adopted we have here a number of specimens 
which should be referred to Nephthya erecta. That is to say the lappets are (in many cases at 
least) distinctly conical and narrowed towards the apex, the polyp-spicules are reduced on the 
inner side, the cortical spindles are strongly warted spindles, broadening into cylinders, with 
more irregular forms towards the base of the stem, where quasi-stars occur. 
To the same species we refer two tree-like colonies from Station 78, Lumu-Lumu. They 
both show pointed conical lappets, up to 1.2 cm. in length, with polyps showing an armature 
of about 4 pairs of irregular chevron rows of spicules, and small rods, almost smooth, on the inner 
side. The supporting bundle is strong and ensheaths the dorsal side of the polyp. The spicules 
include long stout spindles with compound or simple prominences, and in the cortex numerous 
star-like thorny and warted forms. 
The smaller, rather dried and more rigid specimen is 5.8 cm. in height and has a light 
brown colour. The other more flaccid specimen is 8.6 cm. in height and cream-coloured with 
tinges of brown. 
Previously recorded from Pacific Ocean (Tonga-island). 
7. Nephthya grisea Kiikenthal. 
For description see: KUKENTHAL, Versuch einer Revision der Alcyonarien, Zool. Jahrb. XIX, 
1904, p. 152. 
Stat. 250. Kur. 27 M. Coral. 2 Ex. 
A much branched warm-brown limp colony, rising to a height of 13 cm., with a maximum 
expansion of about 12 cm. The breadth of the base is 3.5 cm. The elongated lappets are 
terminally pointed, and the internal spicules of the polyps are small, irregularly disposed, and 
