THE ALCYOXAKIA OF THE MALDIVES. 



499 



The spicules of the asds and of the branches are s<j remarkably similar to thijse of the 

 other species that I cannot distinguish them. A very striking feature, howerer, of the new 

 species is the feet that none of the polyps are completely retracted into the verrnc-i- ^ii 

 this gives the specimen a much more spiny or hirsute appearance. 



The incomplete retractility of the polyps is due to the feet that the spicules jI "n-r 

 crown and the points are not only more numerous and therefore more closely set, but distinctly 

 thicker than they are in the other species. 



I have very carefully compared some polyps of nearly all the specimens of Solenocaulon 

 from the Maldives, and in none of them could I find the same number or character of these 

 spicules as in the new species. 



The pJTiTinlae of the tentacles are supported by spindle-shaped spicules, but these again 

 are stouter than in the corresponding spicules of <S'. tortuosum. 



The colour of the specimen is dark brown. It will be observed that this Dolour is very 

 different to the pale pink, cream, and orange colours of the other specimens of Sjlenocaulon 

 from Suvadiva. 



Family Melitodidae. 

 Preliminary note on the genus Melitodes (Terrill). 



In the c<jllection from the Middives these several specimens belonging to the genus 

 Melitodes and the species problem presents itself again with exaggerated difficulties. 



The specimens are all very brittle and considerably broken, so that the exact form of the 

 whole colony is difficult to determine, but exceedingly weU-marked differences between indi- 

 vidual specimens can be obseiTed in the size of the nodes, the length and thickness of the 

 intemodes, and the colour of both nodes and intemodes. 



From Hulule, Male Atoll, alone I have alreadv noticed the five principal varieties given in 

 the following table. 



From Addu AtoU. There are fotir varieties, apparently quite distinct from one another and 

 from the Hulule, Male, varieties. 



