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

ALCTONAEIA. 579ALCTONIID^.1. Spongodes unicolor.Spoggodes unicolor, Graij, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 29, figs. 1, 2,Varies in colour in the spirit-specimens of the present series frompale orange throughout to—stem pale orange, lobules dark orange ;or-—stem pale scarlet, lobules crimson. The spiciiles carry smallbut numerous tubercles.Hah. Marie Louise and Etoile Islands, Am irante group, 13-17 fms.Distribution. Eellona Reefs (Gray).2. Spongodes studeri, n. sp., var. laevior.See Part I. of this <strong>Report</strong>, p. 333.Some small specimens, agreeing closely in form with those describedby me from Australia : the stem and branches may be whiteand the heads deep scarlet, or the stem and branches pink, thelobules crimson, and the polypes themselves white; in one case thestem is stout, and about as long as the head. The tubercles of thelarger spicules are slightly larger and more numerous than in theAustralian specimens of the variety; but the clustered and forwardly-directedarrangement of the tubercles upon the superior endof the small lobule-spicule is less strongly marked than in those.JHah. Marie Louise Island, Amirante group ; Providence Island,Mascarenes, 16-19 fms.Distribution. See Part I. of this <strong>Report</strong>.3. Nephthya, sp.A very young specimen, in spirit. It is distinct from N. chabroli,the Red-Sea species.Hub. Marie Louise Island, Amirante group, 17 fms. (attachedto Spongodes).4. Nephthya, sp.A young specimen, distinct both from the former species andfrom N. chahroli. In neither case are the specimens old enoughto be positively identified with described species or to be describedas new.Hab. Darros Island, Amirante group, 22 fms.PRIMNOID^.5. Muricea bifurcata.Branches distant, lying approximately in one plane, forming anglesof about 60° ; thickness of stem and main branches, exclusive ofverruca;, 1-5 millim. Verruca; broad and truncate above, in theretracted condition of the zooids; basal diameter about 1 millim.,2i'2