ORDER II. ALCYONACKA. 

 Family ALVYONIIU:. 



This family is represented by two new species of Sarcophytum : 

 8arcophytum aberrans, n. sp. 



,, agaricoides, n. sp. 



Sarcophytum aberrans, u. sp. Plate I. figs. I, 2a, 2b, and 2c ; 

 Plate IX. figs. 7 and 11. 



This species is based on two specimens which are very different from one 

 another in habit and general appearance. The first which diverges less than the 

 other from the typical agaricifortn shape is a coral red colony, attached by means 

 of a thin membranous base to a piece of coral. 



The stalk is 18 mm. in length, and is very much flattened owing to the 

 collapse of the thin walls between the canals. The capitulum is small and 

 slightly mushroom-shaped ; autozooids are more numerous and smaller at the 

 margin. 



The autozooids are apparently incapable of complete retraction. Each is 

 covered by a thick coating of spicules. The tentacles are long (from 4-5 mm.) 

 and laterally compressed, with the pinnules on either side of the middle line of the 

 oral surface, thus leaving a broad free space on the aboral surface. Several of the 

 autozooids reach a length of 18 mm., but on the margin many are only 3 '5-4 mm. 

 in length. 



Between the autozooids the surface of the capitulum is closely covered by 

 small raised points which mark the positions of the siphonozooids. 



In the autozooids the spicules are (l) long rods and spindles with a few 

 very small spines, (2) small club-like spicules with a number of prominent 

 spines at one end and the other end tapering to a point, and (3) small double 

 clubs. The following measurements were taken of length and breadth in 

 millimetres : 



1. 0-25x0-02; 0'3 x 0'02 ; 0'5 x 0'02. 



2. 0-12x0-02; 0'12 x 0'04 ; 0'14 x 0'04. 



3. 0-06 xO'05; 0'07 x 0'04. 



The heads of the second group of spicules lie close together and the projecting 

 spines interlock, thus forming a matted felt-work. 



Locality : Station 232 ; 7' 17' 30" N., 76* 54' 30" E. ; 430 fathoms. 



The second, and at first very puzzling specimen, is a beautiful colony of a 



