Vll 



quite characteristic appearance. Without a large number of specimens for 

 comparison, it must remain a matter of personal opinion whether the presence or 

 absence of quadriradiate spicules or of ovals, the presence or absence of eight 

 longitudinal ridges of spicules on the calyx, the occurrence of the polyps singly, 

 or in groups, or in bundles, and marked dimensional differences in the calyces and 

 spicules, are of taxonomic importance or not. For the convenience of subsequent 

 workers wo have attached names to these forms of Sympodium which dill'i-r 

 superficially and in minute detail. Eeferences to S. sp., ,S. sp. ('.), >S. sp. a, and 

 the like are tedious and confusing. It is probable that the investigation of a large 

 number of representatives, which this collection did not include, will show thai 

 the differences between our six species are variational or modificational. 



Of much interest, and at first very perplexing, is the stalkless form of 

 Sa/rcophytum aberrans, which encrusts a huge sponge spicule. Sarcophytum 

 agaricoides is an exceptionally beautiful representative of this interesting genus. 



The genus Spongodes is represented in this collection by two new species, 

 but there is a large representation in the littoral collection ; Chironephthya 

 macrospiculata is noteworthy in its very large spicules, which may exceed 

 8 millimetres in length. 



Paragorgia splendens is near Gray's P. nodosa ; but as that form is very 

 vaguely described, we have established a new species. It is quite different from 

 the P. nodosa described as a new species by Koren and Danielssen. The Indian 

 Ocean representative of Keroeides gracilis, Whitelegge, differs from the Australian 

 representative in a number of details which we regard as merely variational. 

 Parisis indica is near Yen-ill's P. fruticosa ; the tessellated appearance of the 

 ccenenchyma is characteristic. Pleurocorallium variabile is near Gray's P. 

 johnsoni; but there is again the difficulty of the vagueness of previous description. 

 In these and other cases, where we have not seen the type-specimens, we have 

 had to choose between the alternative of asserting that our form is the same as 

 one previously described very inadequately, or giving a new name, and we have 

 usually preferred the latter. 



Among the new Chrysogorgids, the most striking is Chrysogorgia indica, 

 represented by fragments with dichotomous branching, and with white polyps 

 sharply contrasted with the deep bronze of the axis. Among the Isidse, Ceratoisis 

 gracilis is a beautiful form, with long slender polyps arranged in a sinistrorse 

 two-third spiral ; Acanella robusta differs from A. rigida, Wright and Studer, 

 in the arrangement of the polyps and in their spieulation. The Primuoid 

 Caligorgia indica, distinguished by Dr. Versluys from its near allies C. x>mi!i* 

 and C. versluysi, is of interest in showing afresh the interlinking of species. 



It is very difficult to locate some of the Muriceids. In describing Ant/ni- 

 goi'gia verrilli we have tried to give a little more substance to N'orrill's diagnosis 

 of the genus ; the two species of Calicogorgia seem nearly allied to Antho- 



