ALCYONIID^E. 255 



hard, granular and more brittle. Towards the base the stalk is extremely hard 

 owing to the great abundance of spicules in this region. 



The spicules are relatively small compared with other species. They are adequately 

 described by WRIGHT and STUDER (1889, p. 251). 



The species is monomorphic. The autozooids are all contracted, but appear to be 

 extremely small. They are much more numerous in the lobes than in the furrows 

 between, where they are often from 2 millims. to 4 millims. apart. They are also 

 very scantily distributed on the capitular margin. Owing to the extreme contraction 

 of the autozooids, the pinnate character of the tentacles cannot be distinguished. 

 The stomodseum is comparatively long and has a well-marked siphonoglyph. As in 

 other species, the dorsal mesenteries are of considerable size. There are of course 

 no siphonozooids. 



This species has been previously recorded from Api Island, New Hebrides 

 (60 fathoms to 70 fathoms) and Cape Gazelle, New Britain. 



Sclerophytum polydactylum (DANA). 



One complete specimen and several fragments were obtained from the Gulf 

 of Manaar. 



The complete colony is 35 millims. high, the capitulum measures 37 millims. 

 by 22 millims. across its surface. It is smaller, slightly harder and more brittle than 

 the Maldive specimen, but does not appear to differ from it in any essential respect. 

 This species (see PRATT, 1903) has been recorded from the Red Sea, China Strait, 

 British New Guinea, the Maldive Islands and now the Gulf of Manaar. 



Sclerophytum gardineri, PRATT (1903). 



Three complete specimens were obtained from the Gulf of Manaar. 



Two of the specimens (in spirit) are of a beautiful cream colour, while the third is 

 of a pale drab colour. These specimens agree with the type specimen from the 

 Maldive Islands in all essential respects. Two are slightly larger, while the third is 

 of similar size. 



This species has been hitherto recorded only from the Maldive Islands. 



Sclerophytum palmatum, PRATT (1903). 



Two complete and several fragmentary specimens were taken from the reef at Galle 

 and from the Gulf of Manaar. 



The complete specimens are small, and from their manner of growth do not appear 

 to be so robust as the type specimen from the Maldive Islands. The fragmentary 

 specimens are from shorter and stouter colonies, and have broader and larger lobes. 

 The zooids are very similar in all the specimens, the tentacles having the double row 

 of pinnules characteristic of the species (PRATT, 1903, p. 526). None of the Ceylon 



