38 



with straight spindles, half-sided, thorny and kneed spindles, thorny clubs and irregular forms, 

 but without foliaceous clubs. Polyps project from one side of the somewhat flattened branches 

 and on their borders, and are retractile within exserted clayces". 



The type of this genus is MelUodes ochracca (Pallas). The following list of species is taken 

 largely from Kükenthal's paper above referred to : M. africana Klikth., M. albitincta Ridley, 

 J/, ai'boi'ca Kiikth., Melitodes dcnsa Kükth., M. flabelhim Thomson, M. flabellifera Kukth., 

 M. fragilis Wright and Studer, M. Icevis Wrigt and Studer, M. tiodosa Wright and Studer, 

 M. ornata Thomson and Simpson, M. ptilchella Thomson and Simpson, M. rngosa Wright 

 and Studer, M. riibeo/a Wright and Studer, M. stormii Studer, M. shmata Wright and Studer, 

 M. sulphnrea Studer, M. variabilis Hickson and the new species described in this report. 



I. Melitodes ochracca (Linnaeus). 



Isis ochracea Linnseus. Systema Naturae, lo'h edition, 1758, p. 799. 

 Isis ocracea Pallas. Elenchus Zoophytorum, 1766, p. 230. 



Isis ochracea Ellis and Solander. Natural History of Zoophytes, 17S6, p. 105. 

 Isis ochracea Esper. Pflanzenthiere, I, 1791, p. 38. 

 Melitea ochracea Lamouroux. Histoire Polyps flexibles, 1816, p. 462. 



Melitcea ochracea Lamarck. Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans Vertebres, H, 1836, p. 472. 

 Melitlum ochrceea Kolliker. Icones Histiologica;, 2, 1865, p. 142. 



Melitodes ochracea Wright and Studer, Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 292. 

 Melitodes ochracea Studer. Alcyonarien aus der Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in 

 Lübeck, 1894, p. 109. 



Stat. 71. Makassar and surroundings. Up to 32 meters. Mud. Sand with mud. Coral. (Numerous 



specimens). 

 Stat. 85. o°36'.5S., ii9°29'.sE. 724 meters. Fine grey mud. 

 Stat. 234. Nalahia Bay, Nusa Laut Island. 46 meters. Stony. 



A number of large dried specimens, very much broken up, must be referred to this 

 species. One of these must have been a magnificent spectacle when alive, as the incomplete 

 specimen measures over one meter in height and 5.9 cm. in diameter at base. The main stem 

 and branches are strongly compressed laterally, but the smaller branches are round. The nodes 

 are indicated externally by annular swellings, but they are almo.st obliterated internally in the 

 larger branches. In a branch 8 mm. in diameter, for instance, the nodes can scarcely be seen, 

 being indicated in a longitudinal section by an indistinct narrow band less than i mm. broad, 

 while the adjacent internode is 20 mm. long. The polyps are thickly distributed on three 

 sides of the branches, leaving a broad posterior face bare. The branching is usually dichoto 

 mous, but sometimes lateral. The calyces are included, and the characters of the polyps can 

 not be made out in the dried specimens. The axis is penetrated by numerous canals. 



Spicules. The spicules are mostly small oval spindles with proportionally large densely 

 crowded verrucJE. The hard internodes are made up of an agglutinated mass of rod-like 

 spicules which adhere together so strongly that they do not boil apart in caustic potash. The 

 coenenchyma contains a number of warty clubs, and there are also warty spindles, probably 

 from the polyps. 



