South African Alcyonacea. 
167 
41 fathoms. Collected by dredge. Nature of bottom, rocks. Date of 
collection, April 27, 1900. 
Metalcyonium lanceatum, sp. n. 
One specimen only of this species is present in the collection, which has 
the following dimensions : Entire length, 73 mm. ; length of stalk, 36 mm. ; 
length of polyp-bearing part, 37 mm. ; basal diameter of stalk, 16 mm. ; 
basal diameter of polyp-bearing part, 15 mm. The stalk and the polyp- 
bearing part are not sharply marked off from one another, show little differ- 
ence in consistency, and their surfaces are fairly hard. The polyp-bearing 
Fig. 4. — Spicules of Metalcyonium lanceatum, sp. n. 
part gradually tapers towards the apex. The stalk is white, the polyp- 
bearing part brownish in colour. 
The polyps are numerous, thickly crowded, and are disposed slightly 
perpendicularly to the surface. The calyces, which are to a large extent 
retractile, are well developed. The tentacles are large and lobose, and the 
pinnules also of fair size. The most extended polyps are about 3 mm. in 
length. They consist of a calyx, a short lower part without spicules, and an 
upper portion with the spicules arranged in eight inverted V-shaped areas. 
The calyx and the wall of the anthocodia are fairly similar in appearance. 
The gastral cavities of the polyps are continuous with canals which run 
down to the base. The gastral cavities of the polyps communicate indirectly 
with one another by a small network of canals^ — a point which has been 
