73 



The differences in the measurements given above between 

 the type and the Cape specimens do not, in my opinion, 

 justify the separation of the latter into a new species. 



Of the three specimens sent to me the yellow and the white 

 specimens resemble each other more closely than either 

 resembles the red specimen. But the latter is smaller and in 

 other respects more dwarfed in growth than the other two, 

 the branches being shorter and finer. 



In order to satisfy myself that it really belonged to the 

 same species I compared a series of longitudinal sections 

 through a branch of this series with a corresponding series 

 taken from the other two. I then discovered that the red 

 specimen is a female, the yellow specimen a male and the 

 white one apparently in a neutral condition. Apart from this 

 point, which may be one of sexual difference, three specimens 

 are identical in all essential anatomical details 



Alcyonium antarcticum. W. & S. Plate IV. A. 



Two specimens from lat. ;^2^ 53' S., long. 28° 12' E., about 

 17 miles E. of East London, were procured by the dredge, 

 December 23rd, 1898, depth 45 fathoms. Bottom : sand and 

 mud (b}- lead), coralline material (by dredge). 



Each specimen consists of a globular head 9-10 mm. in 

 diameter situated on a short stalk (barren stem) rising from a 

 thin membraneous stolon of considerable extent spreading 

 over a compound annelid skeleton.* 



In the larger specimens the polyps are only partially 

 retracted, and the globular head and polyps are fairly trans- 

 lucent. The tentacles and the wall of the stomodaeum are all 

 crowded with pink spicules. The coenenchym is white, 

 but here and there a faint pinkish tint may be seen, due to 

 vScattered pink spicules occurring in it. The stalk is brownish 

 in colour, hard and leathery in texture and covered with 

 wrinkles. It is difificult to say how far this is due to post- 

 mortem contractions. 



The smaller specimen is faintly yellow in colour. The 

 stolon is missing. 



* Having but a small amount of this material, which consi^Jts of very hard 

 conglomerated sand, I have not been able to identify it at present, but it appears 

 to be formed by an annelid. 



