131 



nor have we any doubt as to the merging of Stnder's species into Klunzinger's 

 S. mirahilis. Klunzinger's description is exceedingly good, and in addition to 

 this we have examined the British Museum type specimen of Siphonogorgia 

 [mtttitlond. 



Locality: Oft' Table Island (Cocos Group), Andamans, 15-3o fathoms. 



To this species we also refer a small specimen in the Wood-Mason collec- 

 tion which may be a colony with the basal portion broken off". It is ")0 mm. in 

 height and 20 mm. in breadth. The colour of the colony is almost coral-red, 

 but becomes slightly orange-red towards the apex. The main stem divides 

 into two branches, and each of these again gives rise to a secondary, one how- 

 ever being very rudimentary. 



In general structure, architecture and spiculation this specimen closely 

 resembles S. mirabilis, to which species we therefore assign it. 



Previously recorded from the Red Sea and as Studer's *S'. pustalosa from 

 the New Hebrides. 



Siphonogorgia macrospina, Whitelegge. Plate IX., fig. 8. 



To this species (as described by Whitelegge in " Memoirs of the Australian 

 Museum (X.), Alcyonaria of Funafuti," Part I., p. 224) we refer several broken 

 fragments. Two pieces which evidently form the basal portion of a tall colony 

 are over 100 mm. in height. Even at the base the diameter is only 9 mm. 

 but it tapers gradually to 3'5 mm. at the top. Another basal portion is 45 ram. 

 in height and has an almost uniform diameter of 3'5 mm. All the fragments 

 are hard but slightly flexible and rather brittle. The length of the spicules — 

 up to t) nun. — seems to differentiate this species distinctly from all others. 

 Towards the base of the colony these are smaller and arranged irregularly, 

 overlapping one another in all directions ; further up, however, they assume a 

 longitudinal direction and are more curved and sinuous. 



The branches arise almost at right angles and do not differ much in thick- 

 ness from the stem at their point of origin. 



The polyps occur almost all over the stem and twigs, except near the base, 

 at distances of 2 to 4 mm. apart ; a faint hint of a spiral arrangement may be 

 noticed. It is noteworthy that, especially in the smaller twigs, a long spindle is 

 very often curved round the verruca so that the polyp is protected within a 

 small sinus. The verrucas are somewhat rudimentary and resemble in shape 

 the edible nest of the swallow (Collocallia) ; it is more a projecting ledge than 

 a distinct cup. The anthocodia thus appears to arise obliiiuely from the sup- 

 port. There is a distinct " crown and points " arrangement of the spicules on 

 the anthocodite. Just above the oesophageal region there is a " crown " or 

 collaret, composed of several rows of curved spindles, and surmounting this 

 eight triangular "points" each consisting of six to eight spindles arranged "en 



