220 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



The capitulum consists of numerous digitate lobes, mostly 

 simple, but some of the larger centrally situated give off from 

 three to five secondaries. The lobes are more or less compressed 

 with obtusely rounded summits, they are from 5 to 35 mm. high, 

 4 to 12 mm. in their narrow, and 7 to 15 in their broad diameter. 



The autozooids are few and distant at the bases of the lobes, 

 elsewhere they are evenly distributed, and are from '5 to 1. mm. 

 apart 



The siphonozooids are minute, and the orifices difficult to 

 distinguish even with a strong lens. 



The ccenenchyma spicules are very large, and exist in such 

 numbers that the colony is almost of stony hardness. They 

 usually consist of straight or but little curved tuberculated 

 spindles, somewhat thick in the middle and tapering to sharp 

 points, some few have one end blunt, and occasionally branched ; 

 the tubercles are irregularly disposed. 



The measurements of the spicules are as follows : 



(1.) Large, fusiform, with simple spine-like tubercles, and 

 usually with a transverse median constriction. Size, ! by '2, 

 2-4 by -5. 



(2.) Large, fusiform, subcylindrical or subclavate, closely tuber- 

 culate, the tubercles are thickly studded with minute spiny warts. 

 Size -8 by -2, 1-4 by -35, 2- by -5, 4- by -9mm. 



(3.) Smaller fusiform, strongly but distantly tuberculate. 

 Size -35 by -1, -65 by -15mm. 



(4.) Small fusiform, comparatively smooth, with spines. Size 

 5 by -09, -6 by ! mm. 



The cortical spicules consist of short spiny spindles and clubs. 



(1.) Spindles : Size -25 by -03. 



(2.) Clubs : Size -1 by -03, -13 by -03mm. 



The colour in spirits is pale brown, with the grooves and pits 

 darker. 



Reg. No. G. 1541. 



LOBULAEIA (?) VIRIDE, Quoy & Gaim. 



(Plate xii., figs. Qad.) 



Alcyonum viride, Quoy & Gaim., Voy. 1'Astrolabe, iv., p. 272, 

 pi. xxiii., figs. 22-23. 



Ten specimens, very soft and flexible, displaying great varia- 

 tion in thg terminal lobes, some being cylindrical, others broad 

 and compressed or forming a series of rounded undulations on the 

 summits of .the flabellate branches. 



The sterile column in a perfect example is largely developed, it 

 is 60 mm. high and 50 mm. in diameter. 



