THE ALCYONARIA OF THE MALDIVES. 515 



channels connect the coelenteric cavities of the zooids (fig. 3), which, by enabling the circu- 

 lation of sea-water through every zooid, effectively aerate the internal parts of the colony. 



7. Lohophytum pauciflornm. Marenzeller (PI. XXVIII. fig. 7 and PI. XXIX. figs. 12—14). 



Two fi-agments of a large colony were taken in shallow water on the Hulule, Male, reef. 

 Two young complete colonies, which had retained to some extent their mushroom-shape 

 (fig. 12), were also dredged, one from 20 fathoms, Mahlos Atoll, and the other from 24 

 fathoms in the S.-E. passage of Kolumadulu Atoll. 



This appears to be the most common as well as the most widely distributed species 

 of the genus. It was first taken in the Red Sea and subsequently described by Ehrenberg 

 (1834). It has since been recorded by many other writers: 1848, Dana, Alcyonimn pauci- 

 florum; 1877, Klunzinger, Sarcophytum pauciflora ; 1886, Marenzeller, Lohophytum pauciflorum. 

 Also var. validuvi; 1897, Whitelegge, var. validwni; 1900, Hickson and Hiles, Lohophytum 

 pauciflorum. In distribution it is now known from the Red Sea, New Zealand, Andamans, 

 Tonga, Moluccas, Funafuti, New Britain, and now Maldive Islands. 



The spicules have been described by Klunzinger and by Marenzeller. As in all other 

 species of the genus they are extremely small, elliptical, or cask-shaped, usually three times 

 as long as broad, but some longer and some shorter. Tuberculated warts are usually arranged 

 in zones on their surfaces, but here and there a spicule may be seen without warts. Spicules 

 of the coenenchym are '16 — "24 mm. in length, and are '064 — '08 mm. broad. Those near the 

 surface are similar in form, but smaller, with only two rows of warts ; they are "08 — '128 mm. 

 long and "032 mm. broad. 



In all the specimens most of the autozooids are contracted, and in many cases are 

 withdrawn to a considerable distance below the surface of the colony. Owing to the different 

 degrees of contraction of individual autozooids in the preserved state their dimensions vary 

 considerably. The average diameter of a fairly expanded autozooid through the crown is 

 1'8 mm., and through the base of the tentacles 1'4 mm. New autozooids are budded off 

 from the endodermal canals near the surface at any portion of the capitulum, this giving 

 to the colony its lobed form. As in Sarcophytum siphonozooids are formed also by budding 

 fi'om the endodermal canals, chiefly in the vicinity of the autozooids, except on the margin, 

 where the siphonozooids are very numerous, and the autozooids very few. 



The tentacles are fairly long and conical (fig. 13, tent.), their average length when fairly 

 expanded being '8 mm. They are of a simple pinnate character, each having do\vn either 

 side a single row of pinnules, averaging in a faii-ly expanded tentacle "13 mm. in length. 

 The pinnules are less numerous in the young than in the older zooids. In a mature 

 autozooid the pinnules of a single tentacle are almost uniform in size, but in young auto- 

 zooids they are largest at the tip, and gradually become smaller towards the base of a 

 tentacle. The number of pinnules on the tentacle does not appear to be a constant feature, 

 sometimes a tentacle has more pinnules on one side than on the other, but in such cases 

 the autozooids may not be mature. 



The siphonozooids (figs. 13 and 14, si.) are universally scattered in more or less straight 

 lines between the autozooids over the whole of the upper surface of the capitulum. They 

 are about '3 mm. in surface diameter, and can therefore be seen with the unassisted eye. 

 On the tips of the lobes there may be from two to five siphonozooids in a straight line 

 between two autozooids, but on the sides sometimes as many as 10 to 15. On the extreme 



66—2 



