568 DR J. STUART THOMSON ON 



0-085 to 0-306 by 0'170 mm.; (b) double clubs, from 0'102 by 0'068 to 0'153 by 

 0102 mm. 



d. From basal part connecting the polyp lobes: Double clubs, from 0'085 by 

 0-085 to 0-1275 by 0'935 mm. 



The large specimen showed a very large number of gonads, or possibly embryos 

 (Plate III. fig. 16); these were sometimes so abundant as to fill up the canals to a 

 great extent. I reserve these for future study. 



HICKSON has already described this species from Mossel Bay, Cape Colony. This 

 form is specially noteworthy on the shore at Kalk Bay and other places, on account of 

 its brilliant purple colour. This pigment disappears very readily during the process of 

 preservation, although numerous endeavours were made to retain it. 



Hickson's largest specimen was smaller than the specimen here described. The 

 number of lobes in his specimen was 15, in mine there are as many as 40. The lobes 

 in his example had a larger diameter, namely, from 8 to 15 mm., in mine from 6 to 

 7 mm. The diameter of the polyps appears to be approximately the same. 



In connection with my description of this species, I take the opportunity of mention- 

 ing my indebtedness to Professor HICKSON, who most kindly allowed me to examine 

 the specimens described by him from the Cape as well as preparations of the spicules. 



Locality, etc. : P.F. 739. Between Roman Rock and Cape Recife. Depth, 

 17 fathoms. By dredge. Nature of bottom, coral. This species is also frequently 

 found on the shore at Kalk Bay, Gordon's Bay, and other places. It is distinctly 

 a shallow-water form. 



Alcyonium fauri, n. sp. 

 Plate I. fig. 5 ; PI. IV. fig. 44. 



This description is based on a single specimen. The colony is encrusting, and 

 consists of a fairly hard, compact mass of closely adjacent lobes bearing the polyps. 

 Each lobe is more or less hemispherical in shape, and the polyps borne on the 

 circumference are continued internally into the soft coenenchyma. The lobes have no 

 stalks, but all arise from a common, horizontal, encrusting lamella. This basal, 

 horizontal expansion projects externally at some places, to a slight extent, beyond the 

 basal edge of the polyp lobes. It is provided with numerous spicules, and contains 

 horizontally directed canals. Its thickness is from 1 to 2 mm. The number of lobes in 

 the colony is about 20, but in the case of the small lobes, the line of separation is not 

 very distinct. The colony measures 41 mm. in length, 32 mm. in breadth, and 9'5 mm. 

 in height. The colour of the colony is light brown. 



The number of polyps in the lobes varies considerably ; one of the smaller lobes 

 shows about 20, and one of the larger from 50 to 60. A large lobe measures 11 mm. 

 long, 1 1 mm. broad, and 9 mm. high. The polyps appear to have no definite arrange- 

 ment, but they are more numerous and better expanded at the margins than in the 

 centre of the lobes. 



