57 



also on the other sides between the scarlet borders of the calyces. The polyp spicules are 

 scarlet. The axis is a bright yellow, a characteristic which differentiates this species from Meli- 

 todes ochracea. The stem and main branches are dark red. Another colony has the distal 

 internodes creamy white and the nodes yellow. 



This species bears a very close superficial resemblance to Melitodes ochracea. 



T.HOMSON and MACKINNON 1 have called attention to two other cases of very close 

 approximation of species belonging to separate genera, i. e., Wrightella coccinea and Melitodes 

 coccinea (Esper) -, also Wrightella variabilis Thomson and Henderson and Melitodes variabilis 

 Hickson. The present case is quite similar to those noted by these writers. 



There is very close resemblance between Birotulata splendens and Melitodes ochracea, 

 but the spiculation is so different as to justify a generic distinction between the two. 



1 Alcyonarians collected by the Percy Sladen Trust Expedition. Part II, 1910, p. 200. 



SIBOGA-EXPEDIT1E 



