134 



OKHAMANDAL MARINE ZOOLOGY EEPORT 



OEDER STELECHOTOKEA. SECTION PENNATULACEA. 



8. Virgularia rumphii, Kolliker. 

 Plate, figs. 7, 8, 12. 



Kolliker: Die Pennatuliden, 1872, p. 202, figs. 123, 124. 



Two specimens are referred to this species although showing certain departures 

 from the type. The divergences seem to us to be merely quantitative. There is 

 a long bare streak on the prorachidial surface, and a similar streak on the metarachidial 

 surface, obscured, however, at the top by the interlocking pinnules. The pinnules are 

 close-set. They have crowded polyps, a wavy outline, and the peculiar interlocking on 

 the dorsal surface shown in Kolliker's figure. The axis is cylindrical below and 

 flattened dorso-ventrally above. The calices of the polyps are indistinct, and thus very 

 different from those of V. multicalycina, Thomson and Henderson. 



The specimens differ from Kolliker's description in having a larger number 

 of polyps on each pinnule (70 and 55 instead of 40 — 44). Siphonozooids cannot 

 be clearly recognised, but this may be due to the imperfect preservation of the 

 specimens. The superficial ramification of the canals on the prorachidial surface 

 is only hinted at. The axis is more slender in our specimens than in Kolliker's 

 description. 



The following are the chief measurements : 



Locality: — South-west of Beyt" Island. 

 Previously recorded from : — Amboina. 



