ALCYONARIA. 289 



We were at first inclined to record this specimen as a new species of Suberogorgia, 

 but further study has convinced us that it is only a variety of S. verriculata. 



[Note. FAMILY : CORALLIID^E. RIDLEY reported with some hesitation the alleged occurrence of a 

 specimen of Coralliuin nilnnn on the Ceylon shore. It is interesting, therefore, to record that Professor 

 HERDMAN found in deep water (34 fathoms) off Galle a specimen which he mimed Coralliuin (1). It was 

 scarlet in colour, with yellow polyps, and measured about an inch in length. The sketch in his note-book 

 suggests a young specimen of the noble coral, but the unsatisfactory point is that the specimen has not 

 been found in the collection.] 



ORDER IV. : AXIFERA. 



FAMILY: PRIMNOID^. 

 Primnoa ellisii, VON KOCH. 



This beautiful species is represented by two specimens, the larger of which 

 measures 68 millims. in height by 39 millims. in maximum width. The specimens 

 agree with the description given by VON KOCH (1890), and the measurements obtained 

 are in absolute accord with those given by him. 



The geographical distribution of the species is interesting, ranging as it does from 

 the Mediterranean to the Andaman Isles. The exact localities from which it has 

 been recorded are : The Gulf of Naples and the coast of Sardinia in the Mediter- 

 ranean ; deep water off Galle, Ceylon ; and the Andaman Sea, 275 to 45 fathoms 

 (ALCOCK'S " Investigator " Collection). 



Acanthogorgia media, n. sp. Plate II., fig. 8 ; Plate III., fig. 7. 



The specimens are similar to A. ridleyi in mode of branching and in the arrange- 

 ment of the polyps, but they are like A. muricata, HILES, in the disposition of the 

 spicules on the calyces. But they do not seem referable to either species, or to any 

 other whose description is known to us. In the figure on Plate III. the gracefulness 

 of the colony has been inadequately represented. 



The dimensions of the polyps are as follows : 



Height 1 '3 millims. I'l millims. 0'8 millim. 



Diameter at base . . 0'95 millim. 0'95 millim. 0'7 ,, 

 apex . . 0-8 0'8 0'6 



The polyps and the ccenenchyma of the stem and its branches have many projecting 

 spicules. Round the apex of the polyp a number of spicules project. The polyps 

 are arranged in some parts opposite one another, in other parts spirally. The 

 arrangement is complicated by the interpolation of smaller polyps between the older 

 ones. The branching is irregular and not confined to one plane. On the whole, 

 the branching is alternate. The distances between branches varies from 8 millims. to 

 2 millims., and even to 1 millim. The axis measures 0'35 millim. in its thickest part, 



2 P 



