THOMSON AND CRANE ALCYONARIANS 133 



the conspicuousness of the verrucae, for while in some places they stand out to the 

 height of 1 mm., in others the openings are flush with the general surface. Under 

 the low power the slit-like openings of the verrucse show eight triangular lobes 

 which cover the retracted tentacles. The verrucse are uniform in size, with a long 

 diameter of about l'5mm. 



The spicules are on the whole smaller and more uniform than those in the 

 Challenger specimen, the warty spindles being on the average O'l x 0'05mm. 



Locality : The channel west of Beyt Island, 3-4 fathoms. 



Previously recorded from : Off Prince Edward Island, Ceylon, and Zanzibar. 



7. Juncella juncea (Pallas). 

 PLATE, fig. 14. 



Gorgonia juncea, Pallas. Esper : Die Pftanzenthiere, 1797; Fortsetzung, p. 177, tab. lii. 



Juncella juncea. Valenciennes, Comptes Rendus, xli. p. 14. 



See Wright and Studer : Challenger Bep&rt, xxxi. 1889, p. 158, PL XXXIV. fig. 12. 



Several specimens in this collection seem referable to this species. As Professor 

 Hickson points out, there is great difficulty in distinguishing between Juncella 

 juncea and Juncella yemmacea, since they agree in the prominence of the verrucse, 

 the thickness of the coenenehyma, the slight branching, and the nature of the 

 spicules, which consist of clubs and double stars. 



Ridley also calls attention to the slightness of the distinctions separating some 

 of the species of Juncella, and the great variability in the characters. 



Perhaps, as Professor Hickson suggests, J. juncea and J. gemmacea should 

 be included in one rather variable species. 



The present specimens are fragmentary, all except one unbranched. The 

 verrucse are very crowded, agreeing with Pallas's description. The largest specimen 

 is 42cm. long and varies from 7mm. to l'5mm. in diameter. There is no definite 

 arrangement of the verrucse. 



The colour of the branched specimen is yellowish -white, with a touch of red 

 in some of the verrucae. The other specimens have a buff colour. 



The spicules consist of clubs and double stars with intermediate forms which 

 show clearly the passage of the club into the double star. A few single stars 

 were also found. 



The following measurements were taken : 



Double stars 0'07 x 0'03 ; 0'09 x 0'035 mm. ; 0'09 x 0'04 ; O'l x 0'04. 



Clubs 0-08 x 0-025 ; 0'08 x 0'05 ; 0'09 x 0'03. 



Single stars 0'04mm. diameter. 



Localities : South end of Beyt Island, 3 to 4 fathoms ; off Poshetra Point, 

 7 fathoms. 



Previously recorded from : Ceylon, Queensland, &c. 



