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small, creeping form {Acanthogorgia sp.) which grows in extensive, 
low, inextricable bushes, very much recalling the heather. It must cover 
the bottom in large patches, and affords, of course, a fine sheltering 
place for a vast number of small organisms, especially Crustaceans 
and worms, while numerous Bryozoans, Sponges, Tunicates a. o. 
attach themselves to the older, dead branches. This very interesting 
Gorgonian I have not met with anywhere else. Several other large, 
fine Gorgonians were brought up by the diver a. o. a very large 
Melitodes, and also very large and fine specimens of Antipatharians. 
On the other hånd, no specimens were met with of the “Acabahal” 
(Plexaura) which plays a rather important part in these regions, its 
black axis being used for making armrings which are believed to 
help against rheumatism and are worn very commonly, not only 
by the natives but also by many of the white inhabitants 
The interesting Paralcyonium found at Banda by the “Siboga” 
was also brought up by the diver, and likewise some fine specimens 
of a Cerianthus, whose leathery tube was found to be inhabited by 
a large, black Phoronis, just as is the case with the Cerianthus oc- 
curring at Misaki. The “Challenger” Report especially mentions 
the great numbers of Fungia occurring on the coral reef at Banda. 
We found them likewise very numerous in places on the reef, as 
also the diver brought up many specimens from deeper water, 
among which an extraordinary specimen of a Halomitra {philippi- 
nensis Studer?) measuring no less than 56 cm in diameter, looking 
like an exquisite model of the mountain Goenoeng Api. Very remark¬ 
able was the great percentage of specimens showing signs of re¬ 
generation; an extensive material of such regenerating specimens 
was collected by Dr. Boschma for special study. 
As regards the coral reef at Banda I was struck by the feature 
that it was rather more uniform than at Ambon and at the Kei 
Islands, especially the Turbinaria’s were much more richly repre¬ 
sented here than I have seen elsewhere. 
In a small bay at the outside of Goenoeng Api a very interesting 
animal community was met with. Looking through the waterglass 
I observed in a depth of 10—12 M. the bottom to be closely set 
with meterlong red, thin, gently waving organisms, which I thought 
to be a sort of Virgularia or related form. I pointed them out to 
the diver asking him to take up some specimens for me. It proved. 
