THE ALCYONARIA OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND NATAL. 577 



they are more numerous in the rind than in the interior. In the central coenenchyma 

 of the polyp lobes, the spicules are fewer in number, but at the same time larger than 

 in the external part. The spicules of the polyp-bearing parts of the colony are three- 

 rayed or foliaceous clubs, one-sided clubs, ordinary clubs, straight and curved spindles. 

 All are beset with broad, thorn-like processes. They measure as follows : — Spindles, 

 from 0-119 by 0*034 to 0*323 by 0*085 mm. ; clubs, from 0-136 by 0-102 to 0-340 by 

 0-119 and 0-2414 by 0-1326 mm. 



The spicules from the rind of the trunk are mainly stars and double stars. Their 

 dimensions are as follows : — From 0'102 byO'102 to 0-187 by 0*1445 mm., and from 

 0-068 by 0-591 to 0*153 by 01275 mm. 



The spicules of the internal trunk are stars, double stars, spheres, and spindles. The 

 spheres measure from 0'1360 by 0*119 to 0-221 by 0*153 mm.; the spindles, from 

 0-1275 by 0*1071 to 0*204 by 0*136 mm. 



Locality, etc. :— P.F. 12,993 and 12,994. Gronubie rocks, N.W. by W. f W. 3 miles. 

 By dredge. Depth, 20 fathoms. Bottom, broken shells. Date, July 11, 1901. 



There can be little doubt that this form is identical with Capnella rugosa already 

 described by Kukenthal from South African seas. His specimen was, however, found 

 at a greater depth, namely, 155 metres. Kukenthal has published such admirable 

 descriptions and figures of his species that the process of identification is rendered 

 easy. At first I regarded this species as an Euneplithya, but the latter author regards 

 as an essential distinction between Euneplithya and Capnella that in the last-named 

 genus, the walls of the canals are richly supplied with spicules, whereas in the former 

 the reverse is the case. The canal walls in my specimen contain fewer spicules than one 

 would expect to find from his description. At the same time, there is a clear 

 distinction in this respect from that of Eunephthya thyrsoides, Verrill, described in 

 this work (p. 580), and so far Kukenthal's diagnosis of the two genera appears to be 

 well founded. My specimen was larger than Kukenthal's, but the proportional 

 measurements are approximately the same. On the other hand, the polyps of my 

 specimens are apparently larger, but this is a character which would naturally vary with 

 the mode of preservation. A more important difference lies in the fact that the 

 spicules of the polyps are smaller in my form. The fact that the two specimens were 

 collected at very different depths is not an insurmountable difficulty, as one finds that 

 among the Nepthyidse, in one and the same species considerable fluctuations occur in this 

 respect, thus Paraspongodes fruticosa, Sars, has been dredged at depths of 20-743 

 fathoms. 



This species, Capnella rugosa, Kukenthal, was first collected during the Valdivia 

 Exepdition off the South African coast. Capnella rugosa shows generic affinities with 

 Paranephthya capitulifera, Studer. 



