668 " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



Our species differs from Hickson's in the absence of the char- 

 acteristic purple colour, the presence of a distinct stalk-portion, 

 the sparser distribution of the polyps, the larger size of tlie 

 polyp spicules, and the simpler chiracter of the coenenchyma 

 spicules, the double-clubs in Alcyonium pu^-jmreum being figured 

 with at least four whorls of warts. The powdered appearance of 

 the surface of the coenenchyma in our specimens is exceedingly 

 characteristic. 



Locality. — Manning Bight, 22 fathoms. 



Family NEPHTHYIDAE. 



Genus L I T H O P H Y T U M, Forskal. 



LITHOPHYTUM FLABELLUM (Q.G.) 



Lithophytum flahelium, Kiikenthal, Versuch. einer Revision 

 der Alcyonarien, ii. Die Familie der Nephthyiden, i. Theil. 

 Zool. Jahrb., xix., 1903, p. 111. 



A single catkin of this species was found among some broken 

 fragments in the present collection. 



Locality. — Coast of New South Wales. 



Previously recorded from Zanzibar, Solomons, Tumbatu, New 

 Ireland, Carteiet Harbour, and Egmont. 



Genus DENDRONEPHTHYA, Kiikenthal 



(Spongodes in part). 



DENDRONEPHTHYA WATTEl, sp. nov. 



(PI. Ixii., fig. 4 ; PI. Ixv., fig. 2; PI. Ixvii., fig. 3.) 



Station 25. 



Several compact, bushy colonies, from 5 to 7 cm. in height, 

 represent this interesting species. The specimens are all intact, 

 an I show great uniformity in their mode of growth. From a 

 luxuriantly-rooting basal attachment rises a somewhat flaccid 

 stalk, which just above the roots has a diameter of 10 mm., but 

 swells oufc to 16 mm. higher up. At a height of about 2 cm. the 

 stem is surrounded by foliaceous expansions bearing polyps along 

 their edges. Above this, numerous small branches come off, and 

 the stem finally divides into two main branches, which ramify 

 extensively. The stem tends to be exposed on one side in its 

 upper reaches, as there is a much sparser occurrence of branches 

 on one side than on the other. 



