THE ALCYONARIA OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND NATAL. 573 



In sections of the yellow-coloured specimen, the occurrence of female gonads and 

 eggs in the canals of the coenenchyma was readily observed. The eggs were apparently 

 mature, and their structure was very clear, the nucleus and nucleolus being very 

 distinct. Sections of the red specimen showed the presence of numerous male gonads. 

 The male gonads showed a central mass consisting of sperms surrounded by a thin, 

 structureless, membraneous wall, and this latter by an epithelial layer of cells. 



Localities, etc. :— P.F. 12,979. Yellow variety. Gonubie River, N.W. by "W. f W. 3 miles. 

 By dredge. Depth, 20 fathoms. Nature of bottom, broken shells. Date, July 11, 1901. 



P.F. 1085. Red variety. Algoa Bay, between Roman Rock and Cape Recife. By 

 dredge. Lat. 34° 0' 45" S. ; long. 25° 43' 45" E. March 7, 1899. 



Specimens of both varieties were obtained from a number of other localities, and 

 this species must be regarded as common in South African seas. 



Alcyonium rotiferum, n. sp. 

 Plate I. figs. 3 and 4 ; PI. IV. fig. 38. 



This description is based on one complete and two incomplete colonies. The 

 specimens were well preserved, and the polyps were expanded. The colony consists of a 

 number (in my specimen about 12) of slender cylindrical lobes, the stalks of which 

 unite slightly together at their bases. These lobes sometimes pass into smaller lobes 

 or lobelets. The bases of the stalks are slightly turned inwards so as to form a support- 

 ing basis for the colony. The length of the stalk parts is comparatively short, namely, 

 } to | the length of the polyp-bearing branches. The rind of the colony is tough 

 and leathery, and has numerous spicules— more so than the centre. The surface of the 

 stalk and polyp-bearing part is marked by characteristic folds which divide it up into a 

 number of distinct areas, and give it a somewhat crumpled appearance. 



The surface of the stalks and of the polyp-bearing parts is of a yellow colour pro- 

 duced by numerous spicules. These spicules, when cleaned and isolated, appear to the 

 naked eye like minute grains of gold. The polyps are seen on the yellow ground-mass 

 as beautiful, white, flower-like structures. They are present in various states of ex- 

 pansion and retraction, and have an arrangement approaching a spiral. At the apices 

 of the lobes, one large polyp is generally seen surrounded by four smaller ones. The 

 following measurements were taken : — 



Maximum length of colony, ..... 43 "0 mm. 



Maximum breadth of colony, .... 30*5 ,. 



Length of longest lobe of colony, . . . 39 ,, 



Length of part of above, which bears polyps, . . 30*0 ,, 



Greatest diameter of lobe, . . . . . 7'5 ,, 



Length of common basal part of colony (trunks more or 



less united), . . . . . 6*5 to 9 "5 ,, 



Breadth of last at base, . . . . . 10'5 ,, 



TKANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN, VOL. XLVTI. PART III. (NO. 19). 84 



