n 



Alcyonarians fi-om the Gulf of Culch. 



the uppermost projecting sliglitly. A feature of some interest 

 on several specimens is tlie occurrence of a number of small 

 twigs on the siiort stem portion almost tlown to the level of 

 the stolons, eacli twig bearing two or three polyps. 



(4) Astromuricea stelUfera, sp. n. — A reddish, fan-like, 

 flexible olony (l-i cm. in heigiit by 28 cm. in breadth in 

 maximum dimensions) with very abundant anastomosis. The 

 axis is dark glossy brown and almost smooth. The coenen- 

 chyma is very rough. The verrucae are crowded on ail sides 

 of the axis; they are cylindrical and their apex is frinq:ed by 

 about a dozen projecting spicules. Tiie antiiocodire are 

 completely retractile witiiin tlie verriicaa ; there is a low, almost 

 iiorizontai, tentacular operculum ; two colourless converging 

 spindles lie on tlie aboral surface of each tentacle, and there 

 is a single or double ring at the base of the tentacles; other- 

 wise there seem to be no spicules in the |)olyps. The 

 spicules of the coenenchyma are (1) irregnlar warty stars and 

 tootiied plates, (2) stout spindles with tuberculate warts, and 

 (3) small irregular bodies — all of a rose-red colour. This 

 species differs from the other members of the genus in many 

 details, e. </. in the absence of long needle-like processes 

 on the spicules fringing tlie mouth of the verruca. 



Localities. Low water at Kiu Okha, and dredged off S.W. 

 coast of Beyt Island. 



(5) Echinomuricea uUginosa, Thomson and Simpson (1909) , 

 var. tenert'or, nov. — The 'Investigator' collection ot' littural 

 Indian Ocean Alcyonarians includes a new S|)ecie3 oi Echino- 

 muricea (A', uliifinosa) which is described in detail by 

 Thomson and Simpson in a memoir just about to be pnblislied. 

 A variety of this species occurs in Mr. llornell's collection. 

 The diagnosis of the species is as follows: — A pinkish-red 

 colony branched in one plane; the coenenchyma is thick and 

 very rugose, with spicules projecting in all directions; the 

 verrucai are thickly disposed, covering most of the surface ; 

 their walls bristle with the long smooth spines of projecting 

 spicules; there is an elevated conical operculum composed ol 

 two bent spindles which touch for over three-ipiarters of their 

 leno"th, but diverge near the collaret, the interspace being 

 almost completely tilled by a short, curved, transversely 

 disposed spindle ; tiie horny axis is brown, cylindrical, and 

 chambered, firm and flexible below, soft and collap.-ible 

 above; the spicules include a variety of forms: {<i) some 

 showing a projecting smooth spine with branching warty arum 



[364 ] 



