3G1 Piof. J. A. Thomson ay\d Mr. G. Crane on 



tlie ujipeiniost projecting slightly. A feature of some interest 

 on several specimens is the occurrence of a number of small 

 twigs on the short stem portion almost down to the level of 

 tiie stolons, each twig bearing two or three polyps. 



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

 flexible colony (14 cm, in height 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 verrucse are crowded on all sides 

 of the axis ; they are cylindrical and their apex is fringed by 

 about a dozen projecting spicules; The anthocodire are 

 completely retractile within the verrucas ; there is a low, almost 

 horizontal, tentacular operculum ; two colourless converging 

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

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

 wise there seem to be no spicules in the polyps. The 

 spicules of the coenenchyma are (1) irregular w^arty stars and 

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

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

 species differs I'rom the other members of the genus in many 

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

 on the spicules fringing the mouth of the verruca. 



Localities. Low water at Kiu Okha, and dredged oj9f S.W. 

 coast of Beyt Island. 



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

 var. tenerior, nov. — The 'Investigator' collection of littoral 

 Indian Ocean Alcyonarians includes a new species of Echino- 

 muricea {E. uliginosa) which is described in detail by 

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

 A variety of this species occurs in Mr. HornelPs collection. 

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

 colony branched in one plane; the coenenchyma is thick and 

 very rugose, V7ith spicules projecting in all directions ; the 

 verrucas 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 of 

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

 length, but diverge near the collaret, the interspace being 

 almost completely filled by a short, curved, transversely 

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

 chambered, firm and flexible below, soft and collapsible 

 above ; the spicules include a variety of forms : (a) some 

 showing a projecting smooth spine with branching warty arms 



