152 A. Alcock — Actiniaria from the Indian Seas. [No. 3, 



The following genera and species occur in the Indian Seas, and are 

 represented in the collection of the Indian Museum : — 



FAMILY Zoanthidse. 



ZOANTHUS, Cuv. 



1. Zoanthus confertus, Verrill. 



This species was dredged by the " Investigator," the exact locality- 

 being uncertain, but probably off the Pegu coast. 



2. Zoanthus solanderi, Lesueur. 

 This species occurs at Galle. 



Epizoanthus, Verrill. 



3. Epizoanthus stellar is, It. Hertwig. 



Two species of Episoanthits very commonly occur in the Andaman 

 Sea, at depths of 200 to 500 fathoms, encrusting the anchor-ropes of 

 tbe glass-rope sponges (Hyalonema) : one of them appears to be 

 identical with the above-named species from tbe Philippine Sea. 



Family Sphenopidee. 

 Sphehopus, Steenstrup. 



4. Sphenopus marsupialis, (Gmelin). 



Tbis species is very common in shallow water all along tbe eastern 

 coast of India, especially on tbe soft muddy bottom at the debouche- 

 nient of tbe great rivers. 



I can never recollect dredging it except in mass, and tbis seems 

 to point to tbe conclusion that it is gregarious. 



5. Sphenopus arenaceus, R. Hertwig. 



"We have six specimens from the Sandheads. 



It is readily distinguished from S. marsupialis by the cylindrical 

 body, by the thinner test, by tbe double row of tentacles, by tbe less 

 powerful oral sphincter, and by the character of the oesophageal groove 

 which although very distinct is not such a deep-cut channel as it is in 

 S. marsupialis. 



6. Sphenopus arenaceus, var. bamettii. 



I propose to notice separately a variety in which there is a con- 

 stant difference in external form, the oral end of the body being inflated, 

 while the lower part forms a long vermiform peduncle. The external 

 appearance, in short, approaches the figure of Sphenopus pedunculatus, 

 Erdmann, R. Hertwig, in vol. xxvi of the ' Challenger ' Reports 

 Actiniaria, Suppl., PI. I., fig 11. 



The variety comes from the Sandheads, where it was dredged by 

 Mr. Barnctt. 



