FROM THE INDIAN AND PACIFIC OCEANS. 



35 



Siphonogorgia rottjnda, sp. n. (PI. 3. fig. 13 ; PL 5. figs. 38 & 39 ; PI. 6. fig. G4.) 



Two colonies, 23 and 20 cm. long respectively. Stem and branches solid, smooth, 

 rounded. Branching not very great. Polyps borne all round stem, main and sub- 

 branches. Lower part of stem barren. Polyps nearly completely retractile, borne at 

 right angles to stem and branches. Spicules of outer walls blunt spindles covered with 

 numerous low warts, size fairly uniform. Spicules of pai'tition-walls of varying sizes, 

 some larger than those of outer wall, and numerous quite small forms. In the polyp 

 there are about five spicules in each point directed vertically upwards, below this are 

 about eight spicules arranged en chevron, and below this a crown of about sis transverse 

 rows. 



Colour. Stem and branches flesh-coloured, polyps white. 



Sab. Bay of Bengal. 



The following specimens belong to the British Museum : — 



Genus Chironephthya. 

 Chironephthta flavocapitata, sp. n. (PI. 3. fig. 12 ; PI. 5. fig. 44 ; PL 6. fig. 52.) 



Colony 14 cm. long, 9 cm. broad, sterile stalk 3 cm. Branches from main stem long 

 and slender, only slightly further subdivided and inclined to droop downwards. Polyps 

 directed practically vertically upwards, not retractile. Tentacles can be folded over 

 oral disc. Spicules of outer wall of two kinds : — (1) large pale pink spicules covered 

 with warty projections ; (2) long slender colourless spicules with a considerable dark core 

 and beset with few spines. In the branches large pink spicules are absent. Spicules of 

 partition-walls very similar to those of outer wall, but pink coloration much fainter. 

 Besides these two kinds there also occur much smaller spicules with thorny projections. 

 Polyp-spicules : crown with about six transverse rows ; points with two large spicules 

 arranged en chevron, and smaller spicules irregularly disposed between them. Tentacles 

 with a single row of small thorny spicules placed transversely. 



Colour. Stem and branches pure white, with a few pale pink spicules interspersed. 

 Polyps a deep orange, tentacles colourless. 



Hab. Macclesfield Bank, Admiralty Islands. 



Chironephthta planoramosa, sp. n. (PL 3. fig. 10 ; PL 5. fig. 45 ; PL 6. fig. 54.) 

 Colony 11-5 cm. long, 8 cm. broad, sterile stem 5'5 cm. Whole colony grows like an 

 espalier pear-tree ; branches at nearly right angles to stem, inclined to bend downwards, 

 and very slender. Polyps spirally arranged, with a terminal bunch of five ; not retractile. 

 Spicules of the outer wall longitudinally arranged, of two distinct kinds :— (1) a few large 

 straight spicules, pointed at both ends and thick in the middle, with a considerable dark 

 core and beset with spiny warts ; (2) numerous small blunter spicules covered with low 

 warty projections. Spicules of the partition- walls : numerous small, fine, thorny spindles, 

 one or two of which are tinted a very pale pink. Polyp-spicules : crown with about 

 eight transverse rows, and points with about three to five spicules arranged en chevron. 

 Tentacles have a single row of irregular transverse spicules. 



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