ALCYONIID^E. 249 



Sarcophytum bicolor, n. sp. Plate I., figs. 1 and 2. 



Four complete aiid several fragmentary specimens were taken from the Gulf of 

 Manaar and from the coral-reef at Galle. The largest specimen is incomplete, but is 

 250 millims. high and 190 millims. broad, and is provided with huge marginal lobes. 



One complete specimen is irregularly mushroom -shaped, with four lobes, and is 

 attached basally to hard coral. It is 120 millims. high and the capitulum measures 

 150 millims. by 85 millims. across its surface. The stalk is 65 millims. high and has 

 a transverse diameter of 96 millims. by 60 millims. The capitulum has a thick 

 marginal seam. 



The second complete specimen is very much smaller. It is only 50 millims. high, 

 and the capitulum measures 47 millims. by 29 millims. across its surface (Plate I., 

 fig. 1). 



The stalk varies in length in individual specimens; its surface is usually smooth, 

 but here and there are occasional longitudinal wrinkles. In many cases the 

 autozooids may be seen through the transparent body- wall. 



The colour (in spirit) varies from a dark slaty grey to a pale brownish-grey. In ;ill 

 specimens the autozooids and siphonozooids are of a beautiful creamy white colour. 



Some of the specimens are moderately hard and tough, others are soft and fleshy, 

 while a few are quite brittle. The texture of the species seems to vary with the age 

 of the colony, locality, and state of preservation. 



The small complete specimen differs from the larger specimen in the feeble 

 development of the marginal seam, which is very thick in the older colony. 



The Autozooids are extremely numerous and are usually uniformly distributed over 

 the upper surface of the capitulum. In the largest colony they are most numerous on 

 the upper surface of the marginal seam, where they average 12 to the centimetre, 

 and are few in number or entirely absent on the extreme edge of the seam, where 

 siphonozooids are very abundant. None of the specimens are completely expanded, 

 but anthocodia of partially expanded zooids are fully 2 millims. in length and 

 0'5 millim. in diameter. 



The tentacles are all contracted, and, although very small, are similar to those 

 of other species. The stomodeeum, mesenteries and mesenterial filaments do not 

 apparently differ in any important respect from those of other species, but the 

 specimens are not sufficiently well preserved to permit of histological examniiition. 



The Siphonozooids (in spirit), of a beautiful cream colour, are outlined by a network 

 of brown pigment, which also defines the outlines of the canals. 



The average superficial diameter of a siphon ozooid is 0'3 millim. The stomodfeum 

 is well marked and has an average length of 0'28 millim. The mesenteries are similar 

 to those occurring in other species. 



The Canal System is well marked, but exhibits no specially interesting features, 

 with the exception of the presence in the canals of an orange-brown coloured pigment 



2 K 



