species, varieties or "facies" for specific names, and is further of the opinion that it is impracticable 

 to regard as "good species", in the Metazoa, those forms only which do not intergrade. The 

 ccelenterata especially seem to be in such a plastic condition that extreme variation is common, 

 and absolutely exclusive definition of species impracticable. In view of such conditions it seems 

 best to regard a genus as simply a group of species more closely allied to each other than 

 to other groups, and a species as a group of individuals more nearly allied to each other than 

 to other similar groups, even if some degree of intergradation is shown. 



The type species of this genus is Solenocaulon tortuosum Gray. Other species that have 

 been described l are Soleiiocaulon cervicomis (Gray), 5". akalyx Germanos, 5". diplocalyx Germanos, 

 5. grayi Studer, S. sterroklonium Germanos, ? 5. simplex 3 Brundin, S. tubuloswn Genth and 

 the new species described in the following pages. 



i . Solenocaulon sterroklonium Germanos. 



Solenocaulcn sterroklonium Germanos. Gorgonaceen von Ternate, 1897, p. 151. 

 Solenocaulon tortuosum (in part) Hickson. Alcyonaria of the Maldives, 1903, p. 495. 

 Solenocaulon tortuosum Thomson and Simpson. Alcyonaria of the Indian Ocean, II, 1909, p. 157. 



Stat. 49 a . 8°23'.5 S., ii9°4'.6E. 69 meters. Coral and shells. 



Stat. 80. 2°25'S., H7°43'E. From 50 to 40 meters. Fine coral sand. 



Stat. 154. 4°7'.2N., I30°25'.5E. 83 meters. Grey muddy sand, shells, Lithothamnion. 



Stat. 240. Banda Anchorage. 9 to 45 meters. Black sand, coral. 



Stat. 273. Anchorage off Pulu Jedan, East coast of Aru Islands. 13 meters. Sand and shells. 



Stat. 274. 5°28'.2S., i34°53'.9E. 57 meters. Sand and shells. Stones. 



Stat. 282. 8°25'.2S., 127° 18'. 4 E. 27 — 54 meters. Sand, coral and Lithothamnion. 



Stat. 285. 8°39'.i S., I27°4'.4E. 34 meters. On the limit between mud and coral. 



Stat. 318. 6°36'.5S., U4°55'.5E. 88 meters. Fine yellowish grey mud. 



Stat. 319. 6° 16.5 S., 114 37' E. 82 meters. Fine yellowish grey mud. 



Stat. 320. 6°5'S., ii4°7'E. 82 meters. Fine grey mud. 



Colony plumiform, 40.5 cm. in height and with a spread of 3.7 cm. The stem is about 

 14 cm. long, flattened proximally and distally and round on other portions, basal expansion 

 1.1 cm. X 3 mm. in cross section, distal expansion semicircular in section, the flat face being 

 anterior and about 7 mm. in diameter, and the round portion of stem 6 mm. in diameter. The 

 upper part of the stalk appears to have born leaves which have dropped off. The branched 

 part of the stem, corresponding to the rachis of pennatulids, bears a number of broad, usually 

 opposite, greatly expandecl leaves which bend around toward the front where they meet and 

 coalesce, forming about 8 bands or girdles enclosing a tunnel-like passage along the front of 

 the stem. These passages are inhabitecl by a macrouran crustacean, and vary from 9 to 1 7 mm. 

 in width, measurirrg at their narrowest part in front. The branches give forth from their edges 

 flattened branchlets which are narrow distally and become round in section, often measuring 

 about 1 mm. in diameter. The distal part of the rachis is much flattened and ends in a frilled 



1 The present writer does not feel that he is in a position to decide on the validity of species of this genus which he has not 

 had an opportunity to study. 



2 In the case of Solenocaulon simplex the writer has entertained a serious doubt as to the validity of the species because there 

 is nothing either in the description or figure to separate it from other yonng species of the genus. See Brundin, Alcyonarien aus der 

 Sammlung des zoologischen Museums in Upsala, 1896, p. 9. 



