310 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



Stenogorgia ceylonensis, n. sp. Plate IT., figs. 1 and IA; Plate V., fig. 9. 



Tliis new species is represented by two complete colonies, which measure as 



Ibllows : 



(A.) (B.) 



Height of colony 125 millims. 73 millims. 



Maximum width of same ... 117 76 ,, 



The colonies are fan-shaped and, on the whole, branched in one plane. The basal 

 attachment consists of a broad, flat, plate-like portion which spreads over the surface 

 of the object to which it is attached. From the basal portion the short main stem 

 arises and soon divides into a number of principal branches. These give off secondary 

 branches, which in their turn give rise to twigs of similar structure. The branches 

 are, on the whole, given off in one plane, but several of the smaller branches and 

 twigs come off in a different plane. The tips of the branches and twigs consist of 

 flat expansions formed by two divergent terminal polyps ; the expansion in many 

 cases measures as much as 4 millims. from side to side. 



The axis is horny, rigid in the lower part, but flexible and light brown in colour in 

 the younger branches and twigs. 



The verrucaa are very abundant on the branches and twigs, a little less numerous 

 on the principal branches. They are cylindrical in shape, and measure, length by 

 breadth in millimetres, as follows: 1'9 X 1'2; 1*5 X I'l. They occur on all sides 

 of the branches and twigs, and may be said to occur in short spirals which are closely 

 crowded on the branch or twig. When the polyps are withdrawn the verrucas 

 present all the phases between a mere pore with a lobed margin and a minute 8 -rayed 

 star, in proportion to the extent of the retraction. 



The coenenchyma is thin and is easily rubbed off. It is mainly composed of short 

 rough spindles closely covered with warts and spines. They are light yellow to deep 

 yellow in colour, and measure, length by breadth in millimetres, as follows : 

 0-4 X 0-08; 0-5 X O'lO ; 0'41 X 0'079 ; 0'5 X 0'08. 



The colour of the colony is a chocolate- brown. 



Locality : Trincomalee. 



Gorgonia capensis, HICKSON. 



Several complete specimens and many fragments belong to this species. Two of 

 the complete specimens measure 428 millims. and 439 millims. respectively in length. 

 The basal attachment is in the form of a flat, plate-like expansion, from which the 

 thread-like axis arises. 



The axis is dark brown to black in colour, very tough and flexible, never measuring 

 more than 0'5 rnillim. in diameter. In the larger complete specimen it has a basal 

 diameter of only 0'15 millim. The branching is not profuse, the one specimen having 

 two branches, the other only one, though in some of the broken fragments several 

 btanches are present. 



