X. The Alcyonaria. Part I
Abstract
The Alcyonaria collected at the Ellice Group by Mr. O. Hedley, prove to be of more than ordinary interest, inasmuch as the Collection now dealt with includes four new species, and many rare or but little known forms.
There are three species of the genus Sarcophytum, one of which was originally described by Dana as Alcyonium latum, from Fiji; herein it is referred to the genus Sarcophytum, to which it undoubtedly belongs.
The genus Lobophytum is represented by six or seven species; two are described as new, and four others have been re-described and illustrated, with a view to aid in their determination in the future.
In dealing with the species described by the earlier authors, there is a considerable amount of doubt as to their specific identity, from the fact that the characters afforded by the spicules have generally been ignored, and only the external features given. In such cases I have thought it better to accept the species, when they agreed fairly well with the descriptions, rather than describe them as new....
