396 prof. j. a. tuomsox and mr. w. d. uendersox 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 Glavularia. 



(2) The most interesting new forms in the collection ai-e the 

 following: — Clavalaria pregnaiis (viviparous), Siphonogorgia 

 intermedia (which seems an annectent type), Wrightella variahilis 

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

 (with encrusting habit), Virgularia inulticalycina, Pteroeides 

 rigidic7n, and Pt. 2yulchellnrn. 



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

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

 common, namely :■ — 



Clavidaria margaritiferce, 

 Xenia umbellata, 

 Paraspongodes striata. 



Lophogorgia liitkeiii, here recorded from the Cape Verde Islands, 

 also occurred in the Ceylon collection. 



(4) We have given some illustrations of the gi'eat variability of 

 the species of Claindai-ia and Xenia, e. g. as to the number of I'ows 

 of pinnules, the number of pinnules, the bai'e streak on the 

 tentacles, the spicules, and so on. 



(5) Viviparity. — In Clavidaria pregnans, s^i.n., thei-e are large 

 embiyos which cause a unilateial pi-otuberance 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 

 Clamdaria jxirimla, sp. n. Vivij^aiity was recorded by Hickson 

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

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

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

 Distichop)tilum. gracile (Th. & H.) ; UmheUida elongata (Th. & H.), 

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

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

 in Isis hipjouris. 



XoTE 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 aie characteristic of different localities, topographical 

 information is of especial importance in connection w^h 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 anv map, and 



