Locality : Mergui. 



Previously recorded from the Red Sea (Klunzinger and Ehrenberg), New 

 Guinea (Hickson and Hiles), Maldives (Pratt). 



Sclerophytum densum, Pratt. 



iy-^ Lohopli Ilium dermmi, Whitelegge, " Alcyonaria of Funafuti," 1897, p. 219. 



Plate XL figs. 4a to li.) 

 See Pratt, "Alcyonaria of the Maldives," 1903, p. 521. Plate XXIX. 



fig. 18; Plate XXX. figs. 20-22. 



This species is represented by a portion of a colony, evidently a primary 

 lobe, 60 mm. in height, ^l'^ mm. in breadth, and 18 mm. in thickness at the base, 

 but tapering almost conically to a diameter of 9 mm. where it divides into two 

 finger-shaped processes. Just below this division two small lobes arise almost 

 close together, each about 10 mm. in length and 7 mm. in diameter. 



The ccenenchyma is densely packed with large opaque white spicules which 

 make the colony very hard. 



The autozooids are large and fairly numerous. Some are about 2 mm. 

 in length and 1 mm. in diameter. They are separated by intervals of about 1 

 to 1"5 mm. in the lobes, but are more distant on the older jjortion. This agrees 

 well with the description given by Whitelegge, but Miss Pratt says that the 

 autozooids are " very numerous ". The siphonozooids are almost imperceptible 

 even with a strong lens. 



There is a furrow about 3 5 mm. broad and 1'25 mm. deep along one side 

 of the colony between the two lobes ; this is devoid of autozooids. 



The colour is almost jet black. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Previously recorded from Funafuti (Whitelegge), Addu Atoll, 11 fathoms ; 

 Plulule, Male Atoll, 25 fathoms ; Felidu Atoll, 34 fathoms ; Maklives (Pratt) ; 

 Sandal Bay, Lifu (Pratt) ; China Straits, British New Guinea (Pratt). 



Sclerophytum querciforme, Pratt. 



To this species, defined by Pratt (1903), ("Alcyonaria of the Maldives," 

 p. 530. Plate XXXI. fig. 33), we refer two very robust, arborescent colonies 

 of an almost jet black colour. The larger colony is 80 mm. in height and 100 

 mm. in maximum breadth ; the basal attachment is 45 mm. long and 35 mm. 

 broad. The smaller is 45 mm. high and about the same in breadth ; there is 

 practically no stalk ; the branches arise almost from the base ; the lolies are 

 finger-like. 



