308 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



sand. Dead fragments of this genus were also common on the 

 beaches, yet it was only once encountered by any of our party 

 alive, in which state it was dredged off the South- West Entrance. 

 On Nukulailai, however, I noticed living Heliopora in abundance 

 at low water mark at the Boat Entrance. 



"The Plexawra was restricted, as far as my observations went, to 

 one situation, the lagoon side of a "passage" (vide p. 18), where 

 I saw it on both east and west sides of the atoll. It grew in 

 large bushes four feet high and a yard in diameter, in two or three 

 fathoms of water. Numerous Avicula attached to these suggested 

 a flock of small birds perching on the twigs." 



Order ALCYONACEA. 



FAMILY HELIOPORID^E. 



HELIOPORA COERULEA, Pallas. 



Heliopora coerulea, (Pallas) Blainville, Manuel d'Actinol., p. 392, 

 pi. Ixi. fig. 3. 



Mr. C. Hedley informs me that he only once obtained Heliopora 

 alive at Funafuti, but that dead specimens were abundant, both 

 cast up on the b?ach and in situ in the lagoon. 



It was also observed in a semifossil condition in a raised reef 

 near the centre of the islet. On the island of Nukulailai it was 

 seen alive in profusion at the boat landing. 



Order GORGONACEA. 



SECTION SCLERAXONIA. 



FAMILY SCLEROGORGIA. 



KEROEIDES GRACILIS, sp. nov. 



(Plate xvi., figs. 1 - 5.) 



This species is represented by four fragments, of which the largest 

 is 50 mm. in height, and 30 mm. in breadth, the main stem is 2 mm. 

 in diameter. Near the base it bears four simple branches, which 

 are alternate, in one plane, and at very unequal distances apart ; 

 the largest branch is 30 mm. in length and 1 mm. in diameter. 



The polyps are small and roundly conical in shape, from 4 to G 

 mm. in height, 1 mm. in diameter at the base, and '6 to '8 mm. at 

 the summit, they are placed on the sides of the stem and branches 

 alternately, those on the latter are inclined towards one side of 

 the plane of branching, their apertures being visible from the 

 front only. 



