PROF. THOMSON AND MR. McQUEEN — REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIANS. 9,j 



Locality. — Off south-east coiner of Shubuk, at a depth of 9 fathoms, on 

 :i bottom of coarse sand, sliells, and coral. Previously recorded from the 

 Maldives. 



ScLEROPHYTTiM DENSUM {WUtelegye). 



= Lobophytum densum, VVliitelegge. 



See Th. Whiteleg-ge, "The Alcyonaria of Funafuti," Mem. .\ustraliaii Mu3. 1897, 



p. 219, pi. xi. fig.s. 4n!-4/i. 

 See E. M. Pratt, 1903, loc. cit. p. o21, pi. x-xLt. fig. 18, pi. xxx. figs. 20-22. 



This species is represented by two very hard and brittle colonies. The 

 trunk of one colony is 7'5 cm. broad and 58 cm. hiirh. It passes almost 

 imperceptibly into numerous finger-like processes. What we have observed 

 in these specimens corresponds closely -with Miss Pratt's figures (Alcyonaria 

 of the Maldives, 1903). 



Whitelegge (1897) has classified the spicules very minutely, and lii.« 

 subdivisions have been followed in taking the following measurements of 

 Icnj^th and breadth in millimetres : — 



i. Large fusiform, with simple spine-like tubercles and usually with a 



transverse median constriction : 2'5 X 0"5 ; 2*1 x 0'4 ; 2 x 0'4. 

 ii. Large fusiform, subcylindrical or subclavate, closely tuberculate, 



the tubercles being thickly studded with minute spiny warts : 



3-1 X 0-5 ; 2'7 x 0-5 ; 2-3 x 0-45 ; 1-9 x 0-4. 

 iii. Smaller fusiform, strongly but distantly tuberculate: U'75xO"25: 



0-6 X 0-2. 

 iv. Small fusiform, comparatively smooth, but with some spines : 



1x0-18; 0-48 X 0-1. 

 v. Spindles : 0-22 x 0-04 ; 0-19 x 0-04 ; 0-17 x 0-03 : O'Oii x 0-03. 

 vi. Clubs: 0-12 X 0-04; 0-08 X 0-04. 



The colour of the colony in spirit is pale yi'llow ; when living it was 

 bluish-grey. 



Locality. — Forms great sheets in about four feet of water in Suakim 

 Archipelago (Telia Telia Seghir Island). Previously recorded from 

 Funafuti, China Seas, l?ritish New Guinea, the Maldives. 



LlTHOPHYTUM AKBOREUM, Forskdl. 

 For descriptions, see W. May (1899), loc. cit. p. 134, and W. Kiikenllial, " Ver^ucli 

 einer Revision der Alcyonarien. II. Die Neplithyiden, 1 Teil," Zuol. Jahrb. 

 1903, p. 124. 



A large number of specimens arc referable to this species. There is 

 considerable variety as regards the dimensions of the spicules, and some 

 forms approach L. siuhlmanni. 



One of the largest specimens consists of a connnon basis 7 cm. in breadth, 

 from which six branches take origin. These bear secondary branches on 



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