ALCYOXARIA PROM STKGAPORE. 523 



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

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

 appear quite insigniiScant when one considers that these two 

 specimens resemble the type of Stereonephthya lutea in the 

 following important characters : — 



The size and shape of the anthocodise. 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 " Stutzbiindel " ; the large internal canals, with thin 

 walls devoid of spicules, 



Genus Parasppngode^ Kiikenthal. 



P. crassa Kiikenthal, 1896. 



This species was first described by Kiikenthp^ in 1896, and 

 further reference to it i§ made by the same author in his 

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

 " Species incerti generis." Two smajil colonies of a pale brown 

 colour are placed without hesitation in this species. 



One colony was taken in 5-9 fms, of water fpom ]bhe New 

 Harbour. It measures 20 mm. in hejglit ; the djamete).' of the 

 capitulum is 13 mm., thafc of the stem 7*5 mm. 



The other colony was taken in 5 fms, of wa|:^r, ^he precise 

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

 diameter of the capitulum is 11 mm., and the stem is broken. 



The only important character in whfch these specimens differ 

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

 Measurements, length by breadth in millimetres, for thi?ee of the 

 largest spicules from this region 9,re J'2 x '\^, 1-0 x -15, -95 X '22. 

 Kiikenthal found spicules measupng as much as l-*8 x "24 mm. in 

 the stem-cortex. The spicules from the Singapore specimens 

 show, however, the typical warts (-'OS mjii. high). 



Previously recorded from Ternate, at a depth of 30 fms, 



Family Siphonqgorgiid^, 



Genus SlPHPNOGORQIA. 



S. VARIABILIS Hickson (olim Chironephthya vm'iahilis Hickson). 



Two beautiful little specimens taken in JO 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 brai^ches, but a 

 few are scattered on all portiojjs of the colony except the steip. 



Measurements : — 



Specimen A. S2:>ecimen B. 



mm, njin. 



Height of stem 18 11 



Diameter of stem 6 3 



Length of primary branches 23 and 23 24 and 18 



35* 



