GENUS SCLEROPHYTUM, Pratt. 

 Sclerophytum hirtum, Pratt. 



We assign to this species a colon}' whicli while ditFering considerably from 

 the type .species as described by Pratt (1903), p. 522, PI. XXX. figs. 23-25, 

 nevertheless agrees in all essential characters. There is practically no stalk 

 visible ; the colony is excessively convoluted, and the margin has become turned 

 down so that it reaches to the place of attachment to the rock. The total 

 height is 50 mm. while the two breadths are respectively 110 mm. and 75 mm. 

 There cannot be said to be any distinct lobes ; the colony is tough and Heshy. 



The autozooids are regularly (listril)uted over the whole colony at distances 

 varying from 1 mm. to 15 mm. ; when expanded they are about 1 mm. in dia- 

 meter. The siphonozooids are very minute and are not visible to the naked 

 eye. 



The colour of the colony is almost olive-green. 



Locality : N. Andaman Island. 



Previously recorded from Naifaro Reef, Fadifolu Atoll, Maldives. 



Sclerophytum polydactylum, Pratt. 



{ = Akyon'mm polydartylain, Dana, "Zoophytes," p. 617.) 



{ = Alctioninm pohidnctyJmn, Klunzinger, "Die Korallthiere des Rothen 



Meeres," p. 26, Tafel I. figs. 6a to f.) 

 { = Lohrdarid polydddyhi, Ehrenberg, "Korallthiere," p. 58.) 

 { = Lohtdari(i polydiirtyht, Milne-Edwards and Haime, " Coralliaires," I. p. 



121.) 

 {^Ammocellapolydactyla, Gray, "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." p. 125, 1869.) 



This species was included in the genus ScUrophylmti for the first time by 

 Miss Pratt (" Alcyonaria of the Maldives," 1903, p. 524). It is represented in 

 the present collection by a portion of what has evidently been a large colony, 

 but the base is wanting. The specimen is 50 mm. in height, 70 mm. in maxi- 

 mum breadth, and 20 mm. in thickness. The lower part does not bear polyps, 

 but above this region irregular finger shaped lobes arise, one of these again 

 bearing secondary lobes. 



The specimen is tough and fleshy, but the coenenchyma of the lower part 

 bears numerous large spindles. 



The autozooids are small ; they are about 05 mm. in diameter and are 

 separated by intervals of 1 to 125 mm. No trace of siphonozooids could be 

 found. 



The colour of the specimen is a pale chocolate. 



