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

ALCrONAEIA. 355and measure "4 to '6 bj'' '035 to '06 millim. [Comparing Studer'sspecies S. gratji with this species, it appears to correspond closelywith it, but is perhaps distinct by virtue of the smaller size of thespicules and the simple character of their tubercles, as stated above.]Eah. Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms., bottom rocks andcoral ; Arafura Sea, off N.W. coast of Australia, 32-36 fms., bottomsand, mud, and shells. Also Mei'maid Strait, N.W.Australia (Stiider).Ohs. It is interesting to note that it is the specimen which comesfrom a roclcy bottom which has the simple, moderately long, cylindricalstem resembling that of the type specimen, while that whichcame from a loose bottom (sand &c.) has a long spatulate termination,well adapted for maintaining the colony in an upright positionin this less stable material.It seems extremely probable from the account given by Messrs.Milne-Edwards and Haime (?. c.) of the external characters of theirCoiloriorri'ia pahnosa ,\h.?ii it is generically identical with /So^enocrtM^wjii;but hnding a very different spiculation indicated in a Paris slidein this Museum, which professes to belong to the species, I preferto follow Studcr in leaving the question for future investigation.31. Leucoella cervicornis.Leucoella cervicornis, Gray, A7in. 8) Mag. N. H, (4) v, p. 408.A Briareacean intermediate in its characters between Suheria,Studer (ME. Ak. Berlin, 1878, p. 666), and Solenocaulum, Gray.Its most striking external feature is the broad posterior space devoidof polypes and (in the dry state, at any rate) indented by a widegroove. In the type specimens in the British Museum the verrucsemostly have rounded blunt terminations, about 1 millim. in maximumheight ; in a specimen, however, contained in the presentcollection they are mostly pointed and very prominent, viz, 2 millim.high in some cases. Whereas also in the type specimen the colouris somewhat pale umber-brown, in the present specimen the colour isvery dark umber-brown, becoming almost black at the tips of the verrucfe;in this specimen the anterior aspects of the tips of the branchesare almost devoid of verruca} and usually much flattened, while theverrucas on the anterior and lateral faces of the other parts are placedat distinct intervals; the latter are closely set in about equal proportionsover all parts of the anterior and lateral surfaces of thestem and branches. The axial spicules (i.) in both specimens arecylindrical, pointed at the ends, and covered with small sharptubercles ; size -35 to "42 by '024 to "027 millim. The cortical spiculesare either (ii.) fine, long, fusiform, tapering to points at both ends,provided with numerous, but distinct prominent tubercles, "28 to -42millim. by "053 to '08 millim., or (iii.) squat fusiform, with the endsmore rounded than in (ii.), with the tubercles stouter and blunterbut crowded together ; size '14 to -28 by -053 to -07 millim. Thisspecimen furnishes us with a locality for the species, that of theoriginal specimen not being known.Hah. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. ; bottom rock.2a2