A L C Y O N A R I A .
E T
STUAET 0 . EIDLEY.
The scries of Alcyonaria collected in this district is small, bnt would
no doubt, from wbat bas been recorded from Mauritius by otber
autbors (e. g. by Studer, Möbius, and myself), bave been largely increased
bad time and apparatus for tbe investigation of depths
exceeding 30 fathoms been available. As will be seen below, the
Amirantes and outlying Mascarene localities supply most of tbe
species—a circumstance which is satisfactory, inasmuch as (with the
exception of tbe Seychelles Islands, where Dr. E. P. “Wright made
collections) the Alcyonaria of this part of the district have been
hitherto practically unknown. Two of tbe eight species recorded
(viz. Sqiongodes studeri, n, sp., and Juncella gemmacea) were obtained
by the ‘ Alert ’ in the Australian seas as w e ll; of the remainder, tbe
species of Wrightella are probably confined to the Eed Sea and its
neighbourhood. Tbe second new species (fMuricea hifurcata) also
exhibits Australian affinities.
Distribution, within that area, o f Alcyonaria ohtained in the Western
Indian Ocean.
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Family ALCYONIIDÆ.
1. Spongodes unicolor, Gray ...........................
2 —' - studeri n. sp., yar. lævior ...................
...
V
*
3. Nephthya, sp. ...............................................
IT
4 . SD........................... ........................................ *......................
... AA
Family PEIMNOIDÆ.
Tv
5. Muricea bifurcata, n. sp................................ %
Family GOEGONFLLIDÆ.
6. Juncella gemmacea, M.-Edw. Haime....... *
Family MELITHÆIDÆ.
7. Wrightella chrysanthus. Gray ...................
fi ' eoceinea Gtclh . . . . . . .
... ... * AC W
A L C Y O N A E I A .
ALCYONIIDÆ.
579
I. Spongodes unicolor.
Spoggodes unicolor, Gray, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 29, figs. 1, 2.
Varies in colour in the spirit-specimens of tbe present series from
pale orange throughout to—stem pale orange, lobules dark orano-e •
or stem pale scarlet, lobules crimson. Tbe spicules carry smalÎ
but numerous tubercles.
Hcib. Marie Louise and Etoile Islands, Amirante group, 13-17 fms.
Distrihution. Bellona Beefs {Gi-ay).
2. Spongodes studeri, n. sp., var. laevior.
See Part I. of tbis Eeport, p. 333.
Some small specimens, agreeing closely in form witb those described
by me from Australia : tbe stem and branches may be white
and the beads deep scarlet, or tbe stem and branches pink, the
lobules crimson, and the polypes themselves white; in one case tbe
stem IS stout, and about as long as the bead. The tubercles of the
larger spicules are slightly larger and more numerous than in tbe
Australian specimens of tbe variety; but tbe clustered and forwardly
directed arrangement of the tubercles upon the superior end
of the small lobnle-spicule is less strongly marked than in those.
Hah. Marie Louise Island, Amirante group ; Providence Island,
Mascarenes, 16-19 fms.
Distrihution. See Part I. of tbis Eeport.
3. Nephthya, sp.
A very young specimen, in spirit. I t is distinct from N. chabroli
the Recl-Sea species, ^
Hah. Marie Louise Island, Amirante group, 17 fms. (attached
to Spongodes).
4. Nephthya, sp.
A young specimen, distinct both from the former species and
from N. chabroli. In neither case are tbe specimens old enough
to be positively identified witb described species or to be described
as new.
Hah. Darros Island, Amirante group, 22 fms.
PEIMNOIDÆ.
5. Muricea bifurcata.
Branches distant, lying approximately in oneplane> forming angles
of about 50°; thickness of stem and main branches, exclusive of
verrucæ, 1-5 millim. Verrucæ broad and truncate above, in tbe
retracted condition of the zooids; basal diameter about 1 millim.
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