THE ALCYONARIA OF THE MALDIVES. 479 



Kent, Hiiddon and others in Torres Straits and elsewhere the occurrence of this genus in 

 tropical Australian waters has not been confirmed. 



In conclusion I may say that although I cannot accept Ktikenthal's proposal to merge 

 Ueteroa-enia into the genus Xenia, I think it is just possible that this is the course which 

 will ultimately have to be adopted. If it can be shown that notwithstanding the difference 

 in character of the young autozooids and the siphonozooids the latter do develop later 

 the character of the adult autozooids, then the genus must go. This can only be proved 

 by the examination and comparison of a large number of specimens from the same locality. 

 Until this is done it is not only very inconvenient to the systematist but contrary to the 

 best principles of scientific investigation to suppress the genus. 



Xenia garciae Bourne. 



Two specimens, one from the reef at Maradu, Addu Atoll, and one from Hulule, Male A., 

 were obtained by Mr Gardiner. 



The former consists of about fourteen clumps, perfectly white in colour, attached to 

 what appears to be a piece of shell 60 mm. x 30 mm. in size. Some of the clumps are 

 free, and represent single colonies, others are constricted or lobed, and may represent two 

 or more colonies fused together. Each clump or colony is very flat, rising in the centre 

 only 2 or 3 millimetres from the shell. 



The second specimen (from Male A.) consists of 10 clumps, pale bluish-green in colour, 

 attached to a rounded knob of dead madrepore, coated with nullipore coral. Some of the 

 clumps are free, others are attached at the base in pairs or triplets, and I think it is 

 probable that each pair or triplet represents one branched colony. An interesting point of 

 difference between the specimens is that in the last-named each clump rises 4 or 5 mm. 

 from the base of attachment, showing a pronounced stalk (sterile portion). 



A careful examination of the polyps shows that both siDecimens clearly belong to 

 Bourne's species from Diego Garcia, and the differences in colour and height may be 

 accounted for by differences of age or position on the reef. 



It is not necessary to publish the measurements of the polyps I made. They agree 

 very closely with those given for the species in Dr Ashworth's table (2). I may say, how- 

 ever, that I have compared the polyps with one taken fi-om Mr Bourne's type specimen, 

 which was kindly lent to me for the purpose, and there can be no doubt of the identity 

 of the species. 



From N. Male, 30 fathoms N. of the atoll, Mr Gardiner obtained six very small specimens 

 of a species of Xenia closely related to Xenia garciae. They are too young to place definitely 

 in any of the hitherto described species. 



