94 
If Kukenthal’s scheme be followed this species should be placed among those with 
conical and pointed lappets, and with the ventral spicules smaller. But it certainly does not 
agree with any of the species in this section. 
Nephthya gracillima n. sp. var. minor. 
Stat. 213. Saleyer. Reef. 
As a variety of the above we rank a specimen (from Saleyer) with the same general 
features, about 14.3 cm. in total height, of which only about 2.5 goes to the basal stalk. 
The polyps are slightly smaller, but there is the same short ensheathing type of supporting 
bundle, and weak irregular spiculation on the ventral surface. 
And yet there are distinct differences in the spiculation: 
(a) the large spindles of the canal walls bear larger and more compound warts, often so close 
together that they suggest zoning; 
( b ) occasional triradiates occur among these larger spicules of the spindle type; 
(r) there is a sparse representation of small irregular sclerites. 
The same unsymmetrical prominently toothed spindles are abundant. 
It seems to us most reasonable to rank this merely as a variety of N. gracillima. 
18. Nephthya jzinipera n. sp. (Plate XXVII, Figs. 1 and 5). 
Stat. 60. Haingsisi. Reef. 3 Ex. 
Stat. 258. Tual, Kei-islands. 22 M. Lithothamnion, sand and coral. 1 Ex. 
Three very flexible and bushy colonies from Station 60, with the strong supporting bundles 
giving a gorse-like spinous appearance to the lappets, require the establishment of a new species'. 
It comes near to N. pacifica which, however, is a very rigid type with rounded tips to the 
lappets. The sterile stalk is very short, early dividing into broad flexible branches which again 
divide into shorter twigs. On the twigs are borne the elongated conical lappets, in expanded 
colonies almost digitiform. Small lappets and occasionally single polyps may arise from the 
branches themselves; the lappets may attain a length of 1.5 cm. with a breadth of only 4 mm.; 
a common length however is 8 mm. with a breadth of 3 mm. They taper to the tips, which 
cannot be called rounded. The polyps are not so crowded as in the majority of Nephthya species, 
so that a very expanded lappet has a somewhat Stereonephthya-like appearance. The supporting 
bundle of the polyp (Plate XXVII, Fig. 1) forms an exceedingly strong and straight spicular 
triangle lying along the polyp stalk, and consists of about 6 or 7 straight or slightly twisted 
spindles, up to 2 mm. long with a breadth of 0.17 mm., which may project 0.6 mm. but 
frequently rather less. These spindles are covered with short, sharp thorns, except for the 
projecting tips which are smooth. The very short polyp is borne at right angles or at a slightly 
obtuse angle to the bundle, with a height of 0.35 — 0.5 mm., and a maximum breadth of 0.9 mm. 
The armature consists on the dorsal side of three pairs of very thorny curved spindles in 
chevron; on the sides are about two pairs of more weakly thorned chevroned spindles, with 
generally one transversely arranged spindle lying at their base. Common dimensions of a polyp 
spindle are 0.3 X 0.03 mm. 
