ALCYONARlA I'ROM TflK TXDlAN ANl) PACIFIC OCEANi^. 1§5 



Some New Alcyonaria from tlie Indian and Pacific Oceans. — Preliminary 

 Notice. By Ruth M. Harrison, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. (Com- 

 municated by Prof. G. C. Bourne, D.Sc, F.L.S.) 



[Read 6tli T'ebruary, 1908,] 



The following abstract contains a jDreliminary account of five new species of 

 the genus Spoiigodes (Dendronepht/a/a, Kukentliiil) ; two species of SiplioncH 

 gorgia, of which one is new ; t\Velve species of CJiirouepJithja^ of which eight 

 are new ; and four species of Solenocaidon. The specimens described were 

 derived from three sources t — (1) A collection made in the Admiralty Islands 

 by Capt. Bassett-Smith, R.N., when in command of H.M.S. Egeria,' and 

 deposited ill the British Museltm ; (2) the first collection of Alcyollaria made 

 in the Bay of Bengal for the Trustees of the Calcutta Museum ; (3) a single 

 specimen of Spongodes from the China Seas, presented to the Oxford Museum 

 by Capt. Chimmo. Short diagnoses are given of the new species ; fuller 

 descriptions and figures being reserved for a future paper. 



iJ'amily NephtHyid^. 

 Genus Spongodes, Lesson, 1834. 



A. Forms belonging to the Divaricate cerricornis group of Kiikelithal. 



Spongodes Thomsoni, n. sp. 



Branches given off from whole or greater part of both sides of siem in one 

 plane ; branches subdivided into twigs each bearing bunches of 3-10 I'olyps ; 

 polyp-stalks 1^2 mm. long^ borne at right angles to stalk. One spicule 

 projects 1 mm. beyond each polyp head. Spicules of anthocodia in 8 double 

 rows arranged en chevron, one large spicule to each point, other smaller 

 spicules irregularly disposed. 



Colour : Stem and , main branches yellowish white ; twigs becoiiiing 

 gradually orange ; polyps white. 



Hah. Two specimens from Bay of Bengal. 



Spongodes elegans^ n. sp. 



Main stem divides into two branches, each of wldch divides again into two, 

 and these further subdivide into numerous tw^igs ; twO lower branches ibrm a 

 flattened collar nearly encircling the stem. Polyps^ borne on stalks 1 mm. 

 long, in clusters of 4-8 ; one large spicule projects about 2 mm. below each 

 polyp. Anthocodia with 8 double rows of 4—6 spicules arranged en chevron, 

 outermost larger and projecting beyond bases of tentacles. Tentacles with 

 double row of colourless spicules* 



