VIII, D, 6 Light: Philippine Alcyonaria 445 



the species of this genus that the spicules of the polyps are 

 similar, in general form at least, to those of the stem cortex. 



Capnella philippinensis differs from C. imbi'icata in the 

 structure of the spicules of the stem cortex and polyp, C. philip- 

 pinensis having capstan-like spicules and C. imbricata foliaceous 

 clubs with the distal end flattened in one plane and ribbed. It 

 differs also in the si^^e of the spicules of the stem cortex and 

 their proportion to the size of the spicules of the canal walls, 

 those of the inner stem cortex of C. philippinensis being about 

 0.18 mm, in diameter, if anything smaller than those of the 

 canal walls, while in C. imbricata they are 0.34 mm. in diameter; 

 that is, twice the length of those of the canal walls. 



Capnella philippinensis forma typica resembles C. fungiformis 

 Kukenthal in the massive form of its colony, but differs de- 

 cidedly in spiculation. 



Of the 31 specimens belonging to C philippinensis forma 

 typica, one was collected at Sabong Cove by Griffin. It measures 

 30 mm. in height, 30 mm. across the polypary, and has a stem 

 15 mm. in length and the same in diameter. The polyps are 

 moderately large, reaching a length of 25 mm. and a breadth of 

 1.5 mm. 



One colony was collected at Doong Island, Bantayan Islands, 

 by Griffin and Wharton. The colony is very symmetrical, 45 mm. 

 high, 45 mm. broad, with a stem 20 mm. in diameter (Plate I, 

 fig. 2) . In this specimen the lobes are longer and more slender 

 than in the more typical colonies and the spicules are somewhat 

 smaller throughout, but as there is only a single colony and 

 its form is in general similar to that of C. philippinensis forma 

 typica I have not considered it necessary to describe it as a 

 new variety. 



There are 10 specimens from the reefs near Taytay, Palawan. 

 These are all small colonies from 20 to 40 mm. high and from 15 

 to 40 mm. broad and with stems from 10 to 20 mm. in diameter. 

 They are low and thick with little if any branching of the 

 capitulum, the polyp-bearing lobes being direct outgrowths of 

 the expanded distal surface of the colony or of very short, thick, 

 conical branches. These colonies were growing on the dead 

 coral and debris of the reefs in water from 0.5 to 2 meters 

 deep at low tide. 



There are 18 colonies from Silanga Channel between the 

 Island of Matiguit and the mainland of Palawan, connecting 

 Taytay and Shark's Fin Bays. These are all low thick colonies 

 with broad, more or less flat, capitula. They are from 30 to 



