Alcyonarians from the Gulf of Cutch. 3G3 



Order AXIFERA. 



Family Mueiceid-s: .... (4) Astromuricea stelUfera, sp. n. 



(5) Echinomuricea uliginosa, Thomson 

 and Simpson, var. tencrior, nov. 



Family Gorgoxid^ .... (6) Lopliogorgia lutkeni, Wright and 



Studer. 

 (7) Jimcella jimcea, Pallas, 



Order STELECHOTOKEA, Section Pennatulacea. 



Family Virgularid^ . . (8) Viryularia rumphii, Kolliker. 



(1) Sclerophytum polydactylum (Ehrenberg) is a well- 

 known widespread species, previously reported from the Red 

 Sea, Maldives, Gulf of Manaar, China Sea, Zanzibar, British 

 New Guinea. It is characterized by the absence of siphono- 

 zooids, the small size of the autozooids, and the tough fleshy 

 texture. The specimens from the Gulf of Cutch were large, 

 the maximum dimensions being 5 cm. in height by 14 in 

 length and 8 in breadth. 



(2) Dendronephlliya {Spongodes) dendrophyta (Wright and 

 Studer), a species of the flattened umbellate type in Ktiken- 

 thal's dendrophyta group, previously recorded from Philip- 

 pines and China Sea. It is represented by loosely branched 

 and close-set types of polyparium, as figured by Wright and 

 Studer and by Kiikenthal respectively ; the anthocodise show 

 the characteristic eight double rows of curved spicules, 4 or 5 

 in each row ; a trivial feature, noted by Wright and Studer, 

 namely the occurrence of numerous superficial x -shaped 

 spicules on the branches, is very marked. The specimens 

 were collected in the month of December, and they show 

 abundant reproductive bodies — probably sperm-sacs — up to 

 0'25 mm. in diameter, attached to the mesenteric bands far 

 below the polyp-stalks. Some specimens show a itv^ small 

 polyp-bearing twigs on the top of the stalk below the foliate 

 branches. 



(3) Dendronephthya (Sponyodes) hrevirama (Burckhardt), 

 a species of the flattened umbellate type in Kiikenthal's 

 jlorida group, previously recorded from China Sea and Torres 

 Strait. A peculiarly fine specimen has a polyparium 12-5 cm. 

 in height, with diameters of lO'O cm. and 5 cm., with a very 

 short stalk 1 cm. in height, and root-like attachments of 

 about 6 cm. The anthocodias show the characteristic eight 

 double rows of spindles in chevron, with 5-7 in each row, 



