THE ALCYONARIA OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND NATAL. 555 



The polyps have no definite arrangement, but are irregularly scattered on the 

 surface of the coenenchyma. When contracted, they appear as yellowish and reddish 

 circular areas (calyces) on the surface of the deep red coenenchyma. The upper part of 

 the polyp is thus almost completely retractile, but this is apparently not the case with 

 the calyx. Observation of a less retracted polyp shows the upper parts of eight 

 tentacles, each with its band of red spicules. External to these is a double circular band 

 of small red spicules, the calyx. On slight dissection, the crown of the polyp can be 

 pushed out of the cavity, and is seen to be fairly similar in structure to that of 

 Metal cyonium clavatum, Pfeffer (see p. 556). On retraction, the tentacles are simply 

 drawn down into the stomodseal cavity, but are not inverted. The condition is thus 

 similar to that in Alcyonium digitatum. None of the polyps were in a completely 

 expanded condition. Gonads were not developed. The calyx is not a wart-like 

 projection of the rind of the coenenchyma as in Metalcyonium clavatum. 



A rough transverse section through the polyp-bearing part shows that the rind is 

 provided with numerous short, broad spindles ; internally to these, there are long 

 spindles and clubs usually directed radially and also grouped round the canals. The 

 tissue of the coenenchyma is very largely developed, the canals being small. 



The texture of the trunk is very compact and tough ; the canals appear to be the 

 direct continuation of those in the upper coenenchyma ; the spicules are extremely 

 numerous. The rind especially possesses a very large number of spicules, which are 

 densely crowded together. The long spindles and clubs found in the upper portion of 

 the colony are not, as a rule, found in the trunk. 



The spicules of the crown and tentacles are long, narrow spindles with small 

 projections, and clubs with larger processes. Their colour is red. They are disposed 

 much in the same manner as in Metalcyonium clavatum (see p. 558), but are 

 larger. Their dimensions are as follows : — From - 2 1 by 0"05 to 0*67 by 0*06 mm., and 

 from 0-47 by 0'035 to 0-40 by 010 mm. 



The spicules of the calyx are short, broad spindles, red in colour. They measure as 

 follows :— From 0'09 by 0"07 to 017 by 0'05 mm., and from 017 by 0-05 to 015 by 

 8 mm. 



The spicules of the internal trunk are short, broad spindles, and measure from 0*09 

 by 0-04 to 019 by 011 mm. 



The spicules from the rind of the trunk are short, broad spindles, and have the 

 following dimensions : — From 0'09 by 0'06 to 0"28 by 012 mm. 



The long spindles from the internal coenenchyma of the polyp-bearing part measure 

 from 0-255 by 0'034 to 0108 by 0"0425 mm. 



The club-shaped spicules from the same part measure approximately 017 by 

 0'051 mm. 



My specimens agree well with Brundin's description of Bellonella rubra. Brundin's 

 specimens were from the Straits of Korea and Tsugar, Japan. Kukenthal has also 

 recorded this species under the name Nidalia rubra, Brundin, from Sagami Bay, 



