THOMSON AND MACKINNON— STOLONIFERA, ETC. 177 



1899, p. Ill) and others have drawn attention to the fact that the jpoZy/)-spicules of 

 Sarcopliytwm are so often not preserved in the alcohol specimens, that tbey cannot be 

 used for systematic purposes. The colour of the coenenchyma is pale brown ; the polyps 

 are white. 

 Localities. Amirante, 29 fms. ; Cargados Carajos, 12 fms. 



Genus SCLEROPHYTUM. 



23. Solerophytvm gardineri, Pratt. (Plate 12. figs. 10, 13.) 

 For description see : — 



Pratt : Alcyonaria of the Maldives, 1903, p. 527, pi. 31. fig. 28. 



The type-specimen described by Miss Pratt had an irregularly-shaped capitulum, with 

 irregular, long and slender lobes, which were brittle and often branched. The largest 

 lobe was 28 mm. high with a diameter of 9 x 6'5 mm. at the base. 



Most of the specimens of S. gardineri in the present collection agree in their manner 

 of growth with this description. But those in a haul fi-om S. de Malha (26 fms.) show 

 an interesting variation. They are of an encrusting form, without distinction into 

 stalk and capitulum. There is simply a flat slab, like a slice of bread, about 1 cm. 

 thick, bearing on its upper surface low, rounded hillocks separated by distinct and 

 sometimes rather wide valleys. The highest rise for 7-8 mm. and have a diameter of 

 10-12 mm. at the base. 



The whole colony is intensely hard and brittle, owing to the development of very 

 numerous large spindles. Oa the under surface of the " slice " these are horizontally 

 disposed in roughly parallel lines. The colour is dark brown on the upper and lower 

 surfaces ; cream-wbite in the interior. 



Localities. S. de Malha, 26 fms. ; Prasliu, Seychelles ; Amirante, 12-18 fms. ; 

 Seychelles, 20 fms. 



Previously recorded from Hulule, Male Atoll. 



24. Sclerophyttiim densum, Pratt. 



See Pratt: Alcyonaria of the Maldives, 1903, p. 521, 3 figs. 

 Locality. Praslin, Seychelles. 

 Previously recorded from Funafuti and Maldive 



25. Sclerophytum durum, Pratt. 

 See Pratt : loc. cit. p. 528, 4 figs. 



Locality. Seychelles, 37 fms. ; Amirante, 22-35 fms. ; S. de Malha, 26 fms. 

 Previously recorded from the Maldives. 



26. Sclerophytum querciforme, Pratt. 

 See Pratt : loc. cit. p. 530, 1 fig. 



Locality. Amirante, 85 fms. ; Cargados Carajos, 32 fms. ; Diego Garcia, 121 fms. 

 Previously recorded from the Maldives. 



