COLLECTED BY DR WILLEY IN NEW BRITAIN, ETC. 503 



The main branches are 20 — 40 mm. long and about 20 mm. wide ; the processes 

 are 5 — 10 mm. long and 3 — 6 mm. wide. The polyps are scattered over the entire 

 surface of the head at intervals of 1 — 2 mm. 



The spicules agree fairly closely with Klunzinger's figures and description. The 

 long, warted spindles are from o — 2'3 mm. long and "12 — 06 mm. wide. The small 

 clubs are from '12 — -13 mm. long and 04 — 07 mm. wide. 



The colony is fawn colour in spirit. 



Habitat. China Straits, British New Guinea. 



Previously recorded from the Red Sea (11). 



14. Alcyonium glomeratum, Hassall. 



There are two complete colonies and one fragment of a species of Alcyonium in 

 the collection, whk-h appears to be closely related to our British Alcyonium glomer- 

 atum. They are small, the largest being only 45 mm. in height and 22 mm. wide, 

 and probably young specimens. Of course we can form no estimate as to the size they 

 might have grown to when adult. 



The larger colony of the two complete ones is pale yellow in colour but here 

 and there at the polyp heads there may be seen red spots, due probably to clusters 

 of red spicules. The smaller colony is bright orange-red in colour. The fragment is 

 intermediate in colour between the two. 



In this variation in colour the specimens agree with the European varieties of 

 A. glomeTatum. 



The spicules are of the same general character as those of the European forms. 

 In the coenenchyma there are some spicules found which are dumb-bell in shape 

 and the long spindles are larger and apparently more numerous than in the British 

 form. The Talili spicules are 0-4 mm., the British 0-2 mm., in length. A statement 

 (10) has been made that in Alcyonium glomeratum dumb-bell shaped spicules are 

 not found. If this statement ttirned out to be true for all European specimens it 

 would not in our opinion be sufficient ground for the constitution of a new species 

 for the Talili specimens which undoubtedly possess them. The spicules of a common 

 species such as Alcyonium digitatum may vary immensely in size, shape and colour 

 according to the depth and locality from which they are taken, ami unless we have 

 a long series of specimens to iudge from, it is unwise to .speak confidently about 

 the characters of the spicules. 



The facts that the spicules are of the same general form as those ot the 

 European specimens, show similar variations in colour, that the lobes of the colony 

 are pointed and deeply divided, and that the polyps are of the same size and (in 

 the retracted condition) of the same appearance, are sufficient when taken together to 

 justify this determination. 



Habitat. Talili Bay, New Britain. 



Previously recorded from coasts of Great Britain and Norway. 



15. Alcyonium pachyclados, Klunzinger. 



There are two small, complete colonics of this form, the larger is 50 mm. by 

 35 mm. across the capitulum and 15 ram. high. The general appearance, the arrange- 



G7— 2 



