ALCYONARIA FROM SINGAPORE. 509 



Sderophytutn, tends to strengthen the relationship of the genera 

 Sclero'phytum and Xenia which has been suggested by Pratt 

 (1903). 



Order ALCYONACEA. 

 Family Telestid^. 

 Genus Telbsto. 

 T. RUPicoLA F. Midler. 



Carijoa rupicola F. MUller, Arch. Naturg., Jg. 33, 1867, p. 33, 

 tab. 9. figs. 56 & 57. 



Telesto {Carijoa) rupicola Wright & Studer, ' Challenger ' 

 Reports, Zool. vol. xxxi. 1889, p. 262. 



Telesto rupioola May, Jena Zeitschr. Naturvv. vol. xxvi. 1900, 

 p. 58. 



Telesto rupicola Hickson & Hiles, Willey's Zoolog. Res. 1900, 

 p. 496, tab. 50. figs. 1 & 2. 



Telesto rtipicola Thomson & Henderson, Marine Fauna of 

 Zanzibar, 1906, p. 434. 



Telesto rujncola H. Laackmann, Zoolog. Jahrb. Supp. 11, 

 Heft 1, 1908, p. 81, Taf. 2. figs. 1, 2 ; Taf, 3. fig. 3. 



Although the only species of Telesto previously recorded from 

 Singapore is T. prolifera v. Koch, the numerous small colonies in 

 this collection appear to bear a closer resemblance to T. rtcpicola, 

 and are therefore described under that name. 



The largest of these colonies is of a grey hue. Its longest 

 axial polyp measures 85 mm. in length, it is 3 mm. in diameter 

 at the base and 1*25 mm. at the top. It bears six lateral polyps, 

 the longest of which measures 24 mm. Anthocodite arise at 

 frequent, but pretty regular intervals, both from the axial and 

 lateral j)olyps; their average length is 3 mm., and breadth 1*5 mm. 

 The majority of the other specimens are pale yellow and of 

 smaller size. All these forms were obtained in shallow water 

 near Singapore. Some of the exact localities read as follows : 

 Pulo Brani, 6 fms. ; Pulo Brani, 5-10 fms. ; Blakang Mati, below 

 low tides ; Tanjong Pagar, 10 fms. 



Previously recorded from Rio de Janeiro (F. Midler); Brazilian 

 coast (Munich Museum) ; Blanche Bay, New Britain (Hickson 

 & Hiles) ; Zanzibar (Thomson & Henderson) ; Bahia (' Chal- 

 lenger '). 



The spicules show a very wide variety of forms. ISTot only is 

 this the case, but a diflferent selection of spicules was found in 

 each of the five specimens examined. 



One specimen contained spicules very much resembling those 

 of T. riisei. Indeed, the two species are probably very closely 

 related, for Laackman (op. cit. pp. 72 & 82) is at some pains to 

 distinguish between them. It should be remembered, however, 

 that 1'. riisei has not yet been recorded from the Old World. 



A very small specimen of a pale yellow colour was examined 



