396 prof. j. a. thomson and mr. w. d. henderson on [apr, 10, 



General Notes. 



Before proceeding to the systematic description of species we 

 may call attention to some facts of general interest : — 



(1) The collection includes specimens of over 60 species, of 

 which 25 are new. But seven of these new forms belong to the 

 prolific genus Clavularia. 



(2) The most interesting new forms in the collection are the 

 following: — Clavularia pregna7is (viviparous), Sipho7iogorgia 

 intermedia (which seems an annectent type), Wrightella variabilis 

 (a Melitodid with great variability of coloration), Coslogorgia repens 

 (with encrusting habit), Virgularia inulticalycina, Pteroeides 

 rigidum, and Pt. pulchelhmi. 



(3) Mr. Crossland's Zanzibar collection (63 species) and Prof. 

 Herdman's Ceylon collection (42 species) have only 3 species in 

 common, namely : — 



Clavidaria Qiiargaritiferce, 

 Xenia itnibellata, 

 Paraspongodes striata. 



Lophogorgia liitkeni, here recorded from the Cape Yerde Islands, 

 also occurred in the Ceylon collection. 



(4) We have given some illustrations of the great variability of 

 the species of Clavidaria and Xenia, e. g. as to the number of rows 

 of pinnules, the number of pinnules, the bare streak on the 

 tentacles, the spicules, and so on. 



(5) Viviparity.^ — In Clavidaria pregnans, sp. n., there are large 

 embryos which cause a unilateral protubei-ance on the polyp-tube 

 a short distance below the mouth. They seem to be liberated by 

 a rupture of the delicate body-wall. Embryos were also found in 

 Clavularia parvula, sp. n. Viviparity was recorded by Hickson 

 in Gorgonia capensis, and it is probably not infrequent in Alcyo- 

 narians, as we have obsei-ved it in Chrysogorgia flexilis (Th. & H.) ; 

 Ceratoisis gracilis (Th. & H.) ; Pennatula indica (Th. & H.); 

 Distichoptilum gracile (Th. & H.) ; Umbelhda elongata (Th. &.H.), 

 and Funiculina gracilis (Th. & H.), all from deep water in the 

 Indian Ocean. Mr. James J. Simpson has also observed embryos 

 in Isis Mppuris. 



Note on Localities by Mr. Crossland. 



As the Alcyonaria are the most abundant and conspicuous 

 part of the littoral fauna of East Africa, and as certain species 

 and genera are characteristic of different localities, topographical 

 information is of especial importance in connection with their 

 description. As collections from East Africa have been described 

 by some investigators who have contented themselves with giving 

 as locality a small village or islet not to be found on any map, and 



