ALCYOXARIA FROM SINGAPORE. 523 



especially at the tips of the branches. The colour of these 

 specimens, moreover, is of a duller yellow. These slight differences 

 appear quite insignificant when one considers that these two 

 specimens resemble the type of Stereonephthya lutea in the 

 following important characters : — 



The size and shape of the anthocodiee. The size, distribution, 

 and remarkable sulphur-yellow colour of the spicules ; the dis- 

 tribution of spicules agrees even to the disposition of those 

 forming the " Stiitzbiindel " ; the large internal canals, with thin 

 walls devoid of spicules. 



Genus Parasppngodes Kiikenthal. 



P. CRASSA Kiikenthal, 1896. 



This species was first described by Kiikenthal in 1896, and 

 further reference to it is made by the same author in his 

 'Revision der Alcyonarien ' (1907), where it is described under 

 " Species incerti generis." fwo small colonies of a pale brown 

 colour are placed without hesitation in this species. 



One colony was taken in 5-9 fms,. of water fpqm the New 

 Harbour. It measures 20 mm. in height ; the diameter of the 

 capituluni is 13 mm., that of the stem 7'5 mm, , 



The other colony was taken in 5 fms. of water, the precise 

 locality is not recorded. Jt measures 20 mm, in height ; the 

 diameter of the capitulum is 11 mm., and the stem is bi'oken. 



The only important character in which these specimens differ 

 from the type is the size of the spicules in the stem-cortex. 

 Measurements, length by breadth in millimetres, foj.' thi?ee of the 

 largest spicules from this region are 1'2 x "IS, 1-0 x "15, '95 x '22. 

 Kiikenthal found spicules measuj-ing as much as 1'8 x '24 mm. in 

 the stem-cortex. The spicules from the Singapore specimens 

 show, however, the typical x/arts (■02 mm, high). 



Previously recorded from Ternate, at a depth of 30 fm^i, 



Family SiphonpgorgiiDv^, 



Genus SiPHpXOGORQIA. 



S. VARIABILIS Hiekson (olim Chironephthya variabilis Hickson), 

 Two beautiful little specimens taken in 10 fms, of water south 

 of Blakang Mati are referred to this very variable species, Each 

 possesses a very slender stem, from the apex of which two main 

 branches are given off, so that the appearance of the colony is 

 roughly Y-shaped. These primary branches give rise to secondary 

 branches, which in one or two cases are again divided. The 

 polyps occur most frequently on the tips of the branches, but a 

 few are scattered on all povtions of the colony except the stem. 



Measurements : — - 



Specimen J.. Specimen B. 



mm, mva. 



Height of stem 18 11 



Diameter of stem 6 3 



Length of primary branches 23 ai^d 23 24 and 18 



35* 



