1906.] ALCYONARIANS FROM ZANZIBAR. 431 



Wrightella variabilis, sp. n. (Plate XXYIII. figs. 3-9.) 



The collection included a considerable number of small delicate 

 Melitodidfe, of beautiful and apparently variable coloi-ation. The 

 branches tend to be compi'essed ; they lie for the most part in one 

 plane ; the verrucoe are for the most part lateral ; the spicules are 

 wai-ty spindles, straight and curved, sometimes kneed, and clubs 

 with wai-ty expanded ends which are not foliate enough to be 

 called " Blattkeulen." At the same time, the specimens seem 

 nearer the genus Wrightella than any other, and till a large 

 number of specimens is availaUe it seems convenient to combine 

 the various specimens in this collection under the common title 

 W. variabilis. They difier not only in colour, but in respect 

 to the proportions and warts of their- spindles and clubs. Some 

 of the colour-schemes of these closely-related forms are shown in 

 Plate XXVIIT. We may i-eadily distinguish : («) a form with 

 a variable combination of red and colourless spicules, with more 

 substantial and shorter branches than the others and a closer 

 approach to W. erythrcea ; (6) a foi-m with yellow internodes and 

 the usual brown nodes appearing as red ; (c) a salmon-coloured 

 form ; (r/) a crimson foi'm with yellow verrucas ; and (e) a reddish- 

 brown form with red veri/ucae. 



Locality. Wasin, among coral, low tide. 



Order IV. AXIFERA G. von Koch. 

 Family GoRGONiDiE. 



Leptogorgia ochracea, sp. n. 

 Lophogorgia crista Mobius. 



,, lutheni Wright & Studer. 



Family Gorgonid^. 

 LErxoGORGiA oghracea, sp. n. (Plate XXIX. fig. 1.) 



This apparently new species of Leptogorgia is represented by 

 a beautiful dry specimen, 18'5 eentims. in height by 15 in 

 maximum breadth. It has a bright ochreous-yellow colour and 

 expands for the most pai't in one plane with several anastomoses. 

 The disc of attachment has been separated from the substratum 

 and has been overgrown almost entirely by the coenenchyma and 

 a Polyzoon. 



From the basal expansion, about 22 mm. in diameter and 

 9 mm. in height, there rises a main stem, 4 mm. in basal 

 diameter, which gives ofl;' numerous branches. Just at the base 

 a large branch is given ofif, so nearly equal to the main stem in 

 diameter (3 mm.) that it might be regarded as of equal im- 

 portance. The main stem is at first circular, but soon becomes 

 flattened in the plane of expansion ; the larger branches are also 

 flattened, but the twigs are cylindrical, l^hei'e is no particular 

 ai'rangement of branches, but the tendency to arise on one side, 

 i. e. towards vacant space, is well-mai'ked. The tips of the 



