874 DK. J. STUART THOMSON ON 



Spongiodeema verrucosum Mobius. 



This species has already been describerl fi-om South African 

 waters by Hickson in liis papel- on the Alcyonaria and Hydro- 

 corallina; of the Cape of Good Hope, Part I, 



Localities, etc. — Apparently a shallow-water form. 



" Pieter Fanre," 12310. Port Shepstone, north, 8 miles. 

 By dredge. Depth, 36 fathoms. Nature of bottom, broken shells 

 and stones. Date, October 30, 1902. 



" Pieter Faure," 11127. Umkomass River mouth, N.W. by W. 

 i W. 5| miles. By large dredge. Depth, 40 fathoms. Nature 

 of bottom, broken shells and stones. Date, December 30, 1900. 



Family Melitobid^. 



Melitgdes bsperi W, & S, (Text-fig, 167.) 



The specimen is about 104 mm. in length and 117 mm. in 

 breadth, but these dimensions are only approximate as several of 

 the terminal branches were broken away. The colony had three 

 beautiful young specimens of Gorgonocephalus intertwined among 

 its branches. 



Text-fig. 167. 



Melitodes esperi and Gorgonocephalus. 



The colony is red in colour, and is attached to the substratum 

 by a broad, tl-unk-like base. The branches are mostly in one 

 plane, although a few are slightly turned inwards in a direction 



