122 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 



until the polype was completely retracted. But the neigh- 

 bouring polypes of the same colony were not affected in the 

 least degree ; they remained in a fully expanded condition. 

 On the following day (Aug. 14th), the polypes were all 

 retracted, and they remained in that condition until August 

 18th, when a few of them again became elongated and showed 

 their tentacles. On the next day again, most of the colony 

 was fully expanded for a short time, and then all the polypes 

 retracted until August 21st, when a few of them again 

 expanded for the last time. On this day, the second colony 

 in the aquarium expanded for the first time, exactly a fort- 

 night after it was dredged. Some of the polypes of this 

 second colony expanded again on August 23rd, and a few 

 days later, both colonies were placed in alcohol. 



Family II.— Alcyonid^. 



Alcyonium digitatum^ Linn. 

 This species is fairly abundant at Hilbre Island at low 

 water mark, attached to the rocks. Byerley records it also 

 from New Brighton and shore-pools at Egremont, where, 

 however, the specimens were much smaller. There are 

 probably none at all in these latter localities now. Both the 

 common varieties, the deep orange and the pure white, are 

 found at Hilbre. As in the case of Sarcodictyon catenata, 

 the difference in colour is entirely due to the spicules. 



This species was also dredged between Port St. Mary and 

 the Calf, Isle of Man, from a depth of fifteen fathoms, during 

 August ; and it was obtained on the " Spindrift " Expedition, 

 off Point of Ayr ; and in Hilbre Swash, on several occasions, 

 from depths of nine to eleven fathoms. During the cruise of 

 the " Hyaena," it was dredged to the north of Puffin Island, 

 from a depth of fourteen fathoms. 



