550 DR J. STUART THOMSON ON 



Metalcyonium patagonicum, May. 



1. Off Sandy Point, 51 fathoms. 



2. Off Cape Morgan, near East London, 77 fathoms. 



3. Off Tugela river mouth, 65-70 fathoms, (Natal). 



4. Off Amatikulu river mouth, 62 fathoms, (Natal), p. 562. 



Alcyonium purpureum, Hickson. Between Roman Rock and Cape Recife, Kalk 

 Bay ; Gordon's Bay, etc. This is a common littoral form, p. 566. 



Alcyonium fauri, n. sp. Off Cape St Blaize, near Mossel Bay, 36 fathoms, p. 568. 

 Alcyonium pachyclados, Kl. 



1. Off Gonubie River (near East London), 20 fathoms. 



2. Off Algoa Bay, etc., p. 570. 



Alcyonium rotiferum, n. sp. Off Kuskamma Point, 33 fathoms, p. 573. 



Capnella rugosa, Kiikenthal. Off Gonubie River (near East London), 20 fathoms, 

 p. 575. 



Capnella gilchristi, n. sp. Off Cape Morgan, 47 fathoms, p. 578. 



Eunephthya thyrsoides, Verrill. Off Cape Morgan (north of East London), 45 

 fathoms, p. 580. 



Malac acanthus rufus, n. gen. et sp. Off Seal Island, False Bay, 11 fathoms, p. 583. 



Bellonella studeri, n. sp. 



Plate I. fig. 1 ; PL III. fig. 23 ; PI. IV. figs. 45 a-e. 



The colony consists of a basal supporting trunk, and a more or less cone-shaped 

 upper portion bearing numerous polyps. The entire colony measures in millimetres 

 92 by 41 ; the polyp-bearing part, 52 by 41 ; the basal trunk, 42 by 36. The trunk is 

 broadest at the base, and tapers slightly towards the polyp-bearing portion of the 

 colony. It has a fairly strong and tough consistency externally, and its surface is 

 marked by longitudinal lines or grooves. These grooves measure from 0'5 to I'O mm. 

 in breadth. The trunk is of a brownish-red colour, and is clearly differentiated from 

 the polyp-bearing part. The upper portion of the colony is somewhat flattened and 

 shows numerous polyps, extended and retracted, scattered irregularly over its entire 

 surface. The predominant colour of this part is red, but the polyps show some colour 

 differentiation. The tentacles have red triangular stripes or bands beneath, but are 

 yellow apically. The greater part of the polyp is transparent, but the walls of the 

 stomodseum are red. The calyx is marked by eight red, triangular bands or stripes. 

 These colours are in all cases due to the spicules. The polyps are separated from one 

 another by intervals of coenenchyma, the interval between two being from 1 to 2 mm. 

 They are completely retractile, and thus in the retracted state, the calyx covers the 

 entire polyp. The upper part of the calyx is fairly soft, and the entire calyx is never 

 completely retractile. On retraction, the tentacles are rolled up and the pinnules 

 inverted. 



