72 



C^LENTERATA. 



OCTACTINIA. 



Alcyonium digitulatum, Klun%. Eam^svaram. 

 ,, gyrosum, Kliinz. Eamesvaram. 



,, polydactylum, Ehr. (var. mamillifera, Kliinz). 

 Eamesvaram. 

 Sarcophytum pauciflorum, Ehr. 



Echinogorgia pseudosasappo, K'dll. Eamesvaram ; also from 



the Madras Harbour ; studded, as 

 figured by Esper, with Aviculse 

 and Ophiuroids. 

 ,, sasappo, Koll {Esper, sp.). Eam^svaram. 



,, cerea, K'dll. Kamesvaram ; also from the Madras 



Harbour. 

 ,, furfuracea, Koll {Esper, sp.). Ramesvaram ; 



also from the Madras Harbour. 

 Plexaura flabellum, Esper. Horny axes cast on shore at Eames- 



varam and Tuticorin. 

 Juncella juncea, Pallas. Eamesvaram and Tuticorin (near shore 



and on pearl banks). 

 Gorgonia (Leptogorgia) miniacea, ilf. -£(?«<?. {Esper, sp.). Ram^s- 



varam and Tuticorin. 

 Gorgonella umbella, Esper. Tuticorin. 



Suberogorgia suberosa, Pallas. E-am^svaram and Tuticorin. 

 Corallium nobile, Pallas. Ramesvaram. 

 Pteroides javanicum, Bleeker. Ram^svaram. 



,, esperi, Herklots. Ramesvaram and Tuticorin. 

 Virgularia juncea, Esper. Ramesvaram. 

 Lituaria, sp, Ramesvaram. 



Some of the Alcyonia formed large, flat, encrusting 

 masses. Entwining theij* arms round the stems and branches 

 of Juncella juncea, Suberogorgia suberosa, etc., were delicate 

 Ophiuroids {Ophiothix, etc.), and, clinging to the Gorgonise 

 were the Crinoids, Antedon reynaudi, Antedon palmata, and 

 Actinometra parvicirra. Living on the stems of the red- 

 coloured Gorgonise I several times found the mollusc Radius 

 Jormosus, the colour of whose shell corresponded with that of 

 the Gorgonise. 



A specimen of Suberogorgia suberosa, obtained at Mauri- 

 tius in 90 fathoms, is described by Ridley (Ann. Mag. Nat. 

 Hist., 1882, p. 132) as "an immense dry specimen 3 feet 5 

 inches high, and 18 inches in maximum lateral diameter. 

 The colour is pale wainscot to pale rufous-brown ; the 

 branches are given off mostly at angles of 30°. The colour, 



