Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

332 COLLKCTIONS FROM MELANESIA,Ainmothea, Lamarck.NEPHTHYA, Audouin ap. Savigny.1. Nephthya (Ammothea) jukesi, var.Lemnalia jukesii, Gray, Ann. i^- May. N. II. (4) ii. p. 442, fig. 1.The two specimens in this collection differ from the type specimenof the species in having the spicules about one sixth as large again inall dimensions, and in the infundibular, and not merely irregularlyramose arrangement of the crown of lobes. It is apparently notgenerically distinct from Ammothea (this generic name is forestalledby Leach in Pycnogonida), but nearly related to A. imhricata (M.-Edwards and Haime) and A. ramosa (iid.). The spicules have neverbeen figured, and Dr. Gray's description seems, perhaps iinintentionally,to suggest that none are likely to be found in the superficialparts of the animal.Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, between tide-marks.2. Spongodes florida.Alcyonium floridum, Esper, Pflanzenthiere, iii. p. 49, pi. xvi.Spoggodes florida, Gray, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 27, pi. ix. figs. 1-4.Two young specimens. Shark Bay, S.W. Australia, is apparentlythe only other Australian locality recorded. It also extendsto the Philippine Islands (Gray),Hub. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms.3, Spongodes hemprichi.? Klunzinyer, Kor. roth. Meer. p. 36, pi. iii. fig. 1.A young dry specimen, which does not show its characters withsufficient distinctness to justify a positive decision as to its identitj'.It has, however, the general external aspect of the above species ;the stem and main axis are white, the zooids clustered on thesurface-lobules crimson ; the spicules are fusiform, and thicklycovered with coarse, prominent tubercles.Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-5 fms.4. Spongodes spinosa, var.Spoggodes spinosa, Gray, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 27, pi. iv. figs. 5-7.A small portion of a colony, in spirit, possibly specifically distinctfrom Gray's species. The stem and branches have a dullpurple-grey colour, which belongs almost solely to the soft i)arts,affecting the spicules but slightly. Tlie spicules reach a length of