South African Alcyonacea. 
163 
as incorrect. There has arisen some confusion about this species, and I may 
at once state that I do not hold this form, of which I have a number 
of examples, as being the same as that described as Metalcyonmm ixdagoni- 
cum by May and Kiikenthal. There is, however, no doubt that it is the 
same species as the form described by Hickson as Alcyonium mitarcticum ^ 
W. and S. 
The specimens vary very considerably in appearance according to the age 
and state of preservation. The following description applies to the finest 
specimen. It consists of a long stalk and a sub-globular head bearing very 
long polyps. The stalk is fairly hard in texture, the head much softer. 
The stalk is reddish ; the head white, pink or yellowish. The former is 
fairly cylindrical, 23 mm. long and 5 mm. at its greatest diameter, namely, 
about the middle of its length ; the latter is 10 mm. in length (without the 
polyps) and 15 mm. in diameter. The stalk and the head are well marked 
off from one another. On the head there are numerous well- developed 
polyps with young polyps between them. On the surface of the head there 
are numerous spicules between the polyps. 
The polyps are translucent, and when well expanded are 14 mm. in length 
and 2 to 2 "5 mm. in diameter. They are well protected by spicules, which 
are mainly long spindles. A calyx can scarcely be said to be present. When 
the polyp is contracted there is apparently a well-developed calyx, but this 
is merely due to the well-armed crown of the polyp being folded down and 
presenting an 8 -rayed appearance. 
The arrangement of the spicules of the polyps consists of (1) a few 
scattered spicules on the mesenterial filament part ; (2) fairly numerous 
spicules partially arranged in 8 areas on the wall of the stomodaeal part, 
which are chiefly placed with their long axes parallel to the long axes of the 
polyps ; (3) an apical crown of spicules in the form of inverted V's, each V 
with numerous spicules ; (4) beneath these there is some trace of a circular 
band of transversely-placed spicules, but the direction in which these are 
disposed, whether transversely or longitudinally, appears to vary according 
to the degree of expansion of the polyps — in one case the circular ring had 
about 14 spicules placed transversely one below the other. The tentacles 
have spicules, but these are not arranged in two rows as they are in Metal- 
cyonium patagonicum, May, but are more irregularly disposed. There are 
12-16 pinnules on each side of the tentacles. On retraction of the polyps 
the tentacles are firstly withdrawn within the stomodaeal part ; the lower part 
is then retracted and the apical crown projects on the surface of the head. 
Within the mesenterial filament part of the polyp mature ova were observed. 
The spicules of the basal part of the polyp are short spindles, spinous 
rods, club and crosses ; those of the stomodaeal part are longer spindles 
with slight processes. Towards the apex of the stomodaeal part the spicules 
are longer and almost needle-like. In the apical crown needle-like spicules 
