Manchester Memoirs, Vol. lix. (1915), No. 1. 3 



molle was collected at numerous other localities ; it is 

 probably the most common Pennatulid in South African 

 Seas. 



Actinoptilum molle, Klikth. 



Pieter Faure, No. 1,193. Locality, etc. Cape St. 

 Blaize, north distant 4f miles. Lat, 34 15' 15" S. Long., 

 22° 12' 30" E. Taken by large trawl. Depth, 33 fathoms. 

 Nature of bottom, mud. Date, May 5th, 1899. 



From this locality, I have an example of Actinoptilum 

 molle, Kiikth, which is singularly well preserved, with the 

 autozooids completely expanded, forming a beautiful 

 museum specimen. The general ground colour of the 

 specimen is red or pink and the autozooids are white. 

 The natural colours of the example are well retained by 

 preservation in formalin, and by storing in a dull, subdued 

 light. The distribution of colour on the surface of the 

 colony may be noted, and regarded as approximately 

 natural. The apex of the rachis is light pink, becoming 

 slightly darker further down ; in the lower part of the 

 mid-rachis the colour commences to become violet-pink, 

 and in the bud region at the base this violet-pink colour 

 becomes more definite. The upper part of the stalk is a 

 continuous violet-pink colour, and its lower part merges 

 from yellowish-pink to pale yellow at the extreme base. 

 The autozooids are almost transparent, or in the mass 

 they have a faint or dull yellow appearance. 



The dimensions of the various parts of the specimen 

 are as follows : — 



Total length, 146mm.; length of rachis, uimm. ; 

 length of stalk, 35 mm. ; width of rachis, 19 mm. at the 

 rounded apex, 33 mm. at its maximum and 22 mm. at 

 the base (the autozooids not being taken into considera- 

 tion in these measurements). The greatest diameter of 



