THE ALCYONARIA OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND NATAL. 575 



(6) From the centre of the trunk, from 0-0540 by 0-513 to 0-0621 by 0-0513 mm. 



(c) From the calyx, from 0-0378 by 0-0378 to 0-0567 by 0-0405 mm. 



(d) From the external and internal coenenchyma of polyp-bearing part, from 0'0324 



by 0-0297 to 00567 by 0-0459 mm. 



Locality, etc. : — P.F. 13,553. Kuskamma Point, N.E. by E. 5 miles. By dredge. 

 Depth, 33 fathoms. Nature of bottom, rocks and broken shells. Date, August 27, 

 1901. 



This species appears to come nearest to Alcyonium glomeratum, Hassall, and 

 Alcyonium Jlavum, Quoy and Gaimard, but has clear distinctive characteristics which 

 separate it from both these forms. 



Milne-Edwards gives the following diagnosis of Alcyonium glomeratum : — 



' ' Polypiero'ide se divisant tres-profondement en un nombre considerable de lobes 

 digitiformes: Polypiero'ide a surface rude." 



This diagnosis agrees fairly well with my form, but on referring to figures, one 

 sees that the lobes do not originate so near the base as in my species. 



A. glomeratum was described from the coasts of Great Britain, and has more 

 recently been recorded by Hickson from Talili Bay, New Britain. The spicules of 

 Alcyonium glomeratum seem entirely different from those of my species. This 

 species appears also to have some points of resemblance with A. Jlavum, Quoy 

 and Gaimard, but one gathers that the latter has a more arborescent and compressed 

 form ; that the lobes are pointed, not rounded at the apices, and that the polyps 

 are smaller. 



The chief characteristics of the new species are as follows : — 



The lobes originate from the base of the colony ; the surface of the colony is fairly 

 hard and much wrinkled, and the stalk passes gradually into the polyp-bearing part. 

 The tentacles are petal-like ; there arc no spicules in the upper part of the polyp ; 

 the spicules of the other parts of the colony are small, and have the form of double 

 wheels. 



Capnella rugosa, Kiikenthal. 

 1901, Nephthya rugosa, Kiikenthal. 

 1903, Capnella rugosa, Kiikenthal. 



Plate II. fig. 10 ; PL IV. figs. 42 a-c. 



This description is based on one complete specimen and a small fragment of 

 another. 



The colony consists of a trunk, and an upper portion bearing the polyps in lobes 

 or tufts. The colour is, in formalin, light brown, the trunk being of a lighter 

 colour than the polyp-bearing part. The general surface of the trunk is marked by 

 a number of longitudinal lines or grooves, and in its upper part by circumferential 

 wrinkles. 



