278 



CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



Capnella manaarensis, n. sp. Plate II., fig. 4 ; Plate V., fig. 14. 



A specimen without " Stiitzbundel," with numerous spicules in the canal walls, and 

 with the polyps arranged not in bundles but in conical lobes or catkins, we refer to 

 the genus Capnella, as reconstructed by KUKENTHAL (1902). 



The colony is fairly rigid and stands 79 millims. high by 75 millims. in maximum 

 breadth. The general colour is a greyish-white or a dirty white. A short stem 

 gives off several main branches, which in their ultimate divisions give rise to polyp- 

 bearing lobes or catkins. 



The superficial coenenchyma of the branches and the main stem is rough in texture 

 and has a stringy appearance owing to the arrangement of the spicules. 



The polyps have an average length of 0'95 millim. by an average breadth ot 

 0'65 millim. They are supported by spindle-shaped spicules which are arranged 

 longitudinally, and vary in length from 0'29 millim. to 0'55 millim. and in breadth 

 from 0'04 millim. to 0'08 millim. 



In the coenenchyma the spicules are spiny spindles. They are usually straight or 

 curved, but several show a bifurcation at one end, or give off a short branch near 

 their middle point. They show considerable variation in size, measuring from 

 0'5 millim. to 1'35 millims. in length and O'lO millim. to 0'16 millim. in breadth. 



Locality : Pearl banks off Aripu, Gulf of Manaar. 



Spongodes pulchra, n. sp.* Plate I., fig. 5 ; Plate V., fig. 10. 



This species is represented by many specimens, 3 of which give the following 

 measurements : 



* The third instalment of Professor W. KUKENTHAL'S "Versuch einer Revision der Alcyonarien" 

 (' Zool. Jahrb.,' xxxi., 1905, pp. 503-726, 7 pis., and 61 figs.) appeared while this report was being passed for 

 press, and it could not be utilised. He splits the old genus Spongodes, with which one is loth to part, into 

 the two new genera Dendronephthya and Stereonephthya, with 90 species to the former and 8 species to the 

 latter. Everyone will welcome KUKENTHAL'S important contribution to the study of a difficult and 

 polymorphic genus, but what is gained by trying to do away with the old title Spongodes, which is 

 practically equivalent to Dendronephthya, just as Spongodia is to Stereonephthya ? KUKENTHAL has studied 



