THOMSON AND MACKINNON— STOLONIFERA, ETC. 197 



Family SclerogorgiidsB. 



Grenus SUBEROGORGIA. 



68. Suberorjorgia verriculata (Esper). 

 Por description see : — 



Thomson and Henderson : Ceylon Pearl Oyster Report, No. xx. 1905, pp. 287-289. 



This well-known species is represented by a complete colony (21*5 X 19 cm., with a 

 stalk-diameter near the base of 7 mm.), and a large number of incomplete pieces, all 

 branching in one plane, and anastomosing freely. To one of them a small pearl-oyster 

 is attached. The colour is a drab-brown. 



Localities. Amirante, 12-39 fms. ; Cargados Carajos, 25 fms. 



Previously recorded from N.W. coast of Australia, Japan, deep water off Galle 

 (Ceylon). 



Genus KEROEIDES. 



69. Keroeides koreni, Wright and Studer. (Plate 10. figs. 1 & 2.) 



For description see : — 



Wright and Studer: 'Challenger' Reports, xxxi. (1889) p. 169, pi. 40. fig. 3. 

 Thomson and Henderson : Alcyonarians collected by the ' Investigator' in the Indian Ocean, part i. 

 (1906) p. 22, pi. 1. figs. 6 & 7. 



A number of branching fragments, and one very fine specimen which is nearly 

 complete. 



The complete colony has a height of 9"5 cm. with a maximum width across the 

 branched portion of about 13 cm. The stem (5 mm. in diameter) gives off three 

 branches from close to its slightly encrusting base : the bulk of the colony is composed 

 of the further ramifications of the stem itself and of two of these main branches. 

 Branching is approximately in one plane : the branches come off at about right angles, 

 and then either curve upwards or are slightly pendulous. There is no anastomosis. 

 The branches have in most cases a diameter of 2-3 mm. The polyps occur all over the 

 colony, but are confined to two sides of a branch : in the smaller branches the polyps 

 of one row alternate with those of the other. The verrucse project to a height of 

 1-15 mm. ; many of the polyps are not retracted. 



The surface of the colony has a characteristic wax-like appearance, especially when 

 dry : the limits between the broad flattened spicules of the " pavement " covering look 

 like a network of shallow grooves in the wax. 



The colour is a beautiful coral-red, the tentacles of the polyps snow-white. 



Localities. Salomon, 60-120 fms. ; Salomon, 75 fms. 



Previously recorded from off Japan, 345 fms. ; Funafuti {Riles), 40-90 fms. ; 

 Andamans, 270-45 fms. 



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