93 
A very young colony of a cream colour from Labuan-Badjo arises from a piece of brown 
Alga to a total height of 16 mm. The stalk has a height of 7 mm. and a breadth of nearly 
3 mm. It bears characteristic conical lappets of close-packed polyps, with inconspicuous supporting 
bundles. The spicules are like incipient forms of the big colony, that is to say they are straight 
and curved spindles with long prominences often asymmetrically disposed. No capstan-like forms 
were to be seen ; indeed all the spicules were spindles or slight modifications of these. 
A young upright white colony from Haingsisi shows mode of growth and spiculation (with 
coarse branched tubercles) agreeing most nearly with those of JV. cervispiculosa. The total 
height is 3.2 cm., of which 2.2 cm. is flexible stalk, with a maximum basal diameter of 6 mm. 
narrowing to 3 mm. at the top. The lappets are conical and elongated (about 6 X 2.5 mm.). The 
polyps have a strong supporting bundle with sometimes one or two spicules slightly projecting. 
They are bent at an acute angle to the stalk. The polyp armature is extremely difficult to 
analyse with accuracy in this specimen, but there do not seem to be more than 5 chevron rows 
in any ‘p°i nt - 
A dark coloured specimen from Station 104 shows the same spiculation, but includes 
some massive broad spindles with low warts so close that there is a suggestion of transverse 
rows. Some of the spindles are very unsymmetrical, with huge fangs on the convex side. There 
are numerous irregular bodies from the cortex near the base, and some of these might be called 
pseudo-stars. Another feature of this slightly aberrant form, which has however the characteristic 
antlered spindles, is that parts of the lower cortex show short spindles, close-packed but very 
distinct from one another. They are almost rodlet-like, being short for their breadth. In general 
features, however, this specimen seems to us to be referable to this new species, N. cervispiculosa. 
A colony from Station 209 shows a more markedly white colouration. The spiculation 
and armature of the polyps is, however, typical. 
This species is well-marked by the prominence and often compound branching of many 
of the thorns on the spindles and derivatives of spindles. It may perhaps serve to bring the 
genera Nepthya and Stereonephthya more closely together. 
17. Nephthya gracillima n. sp. (Plate XIII, Fig. i; Plate XVI, Fig. 3). 
Stat. 213. Sa'eyer. Up to 36 M. Coral reefs, mud and mud with sand. 1 Ex. 
Stat. 258. Tual, Kei-islands. 22 M. Lithothamnion; sand and coral, r Ex. 
Four much branched limp yellowish colonies. The best specimen is about 22 cm. in total 
height, of which only about 1.5 cm. goes to the basal stalk. Yet the main part of this colony 
has only a few branches in its basal portion. 
The lappets are very numerous, much elongated, narrow, a common length being 1.8 cm. 
with a thickness of 2 mm. 
The ovoid polyps have a distinct supporting bundle of the ensheathing type, not projecting. 
The spicules on the ventral surface of the polyp are smaller and fewer, but there are none of 
the smooth rod type. 
All the superficial spicules are spindles, varying greatly in dimensions, densely warted, 
often with very prominent tooth-like projections, stronger on one side. No irregular forms occur. 
On the lower canal walls there are stout spindles with low conical warts. 
