180 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



Virgularia elegans, Gray. 



To this imperfectly described species we refer an imperfect specimen, and if the 

 reference be correct we can make Gray's diagnosis a little more definite. 



The rachis bears 106 pairs of pinnules; it is 145 millims. in length, including 

 1 5 millims. of exposed axis at the broken basal end ; its breadth is 2 millims. to 

 3 millims., and that of the axis 1'25 millims. 



The pinnules have a breadth and height of 2 - 75 millims. x 0'5 millim., 275 millims. 

 x 2 millims., 2 2 5 millims. x 075 millim., at the base, middle portion, and top of the 

 rachis. The interval between them is 0'25 millim. at the base and 2 millims. at the 

 top. They bear 18 polyps in a single row. 



Locality : Ceylon seas. 



Virgularia calycina, n. sp. Plate, figs. 8, 9, 10, 11. 



An incomplete specimen, 57 millims. in length by 3 millims. to 4 millims. in 

 breadth, altogether pinnule-bearing, except 5 millims. of bare axis at the broken 

 basal end. 



The lower pinnules are closely crowded, with no intervals between them, but in the 

 upper portion of the rachis they become distant, being separated by intervals of 

 175 millims. There is a bare streak, about 075 millim. in breadth, along the 

 prorachidial surface. 



The pinnules are substantial and distinct, though relatively narrow, and their 

 prorachidial insertion is very markedly higher than the other. The curve of their 

 free margin is a crescent. On each of those counted there were 18 very distinct 

 calices, with conspicuous longitudinal grooves. When the polyps are retracted, the 

 calices are ovoid in shape, about 1 millim. in height, with a minute circular aperture. 

 The polyps appear to be arranged, except the first three or four at the prorachidial 

 side, in two alternating rows, but this is simply due to the fact that they are 

 alternately shunted to opposite sides along the margin of the pinnule. The inferior 

 surface of the pinnule is strongly marked by eighteen parallel ridges, each corre- 

 sponding to a calyx or polyp. On the upper surface there are similar markings, but 

 less pronounced. Some of the polyps contain ova. Here and there a few minute 

 lateral zooids were seen in a row about halfway between two pinnules. 



The axis is white and cylindrical, with somewhat delicate and complex markings. 



This form should be ranked among those species of Virgularia which Kolliker 

 described as having distinct pinnules, distinct calices, zooids in one row or in two 

 rows, with the ventral insertion higher than the dorsal, with non-transparent, 

 crescent-shaped pinnules, that is to the artificial section including V. mirabilis 

 (0. F. Muller) (with 6 to 9 polyps), V. multifiora, Kner (with 11 to 15 polyps), 

 and some uncertain forms. But from V. multifiora this new form is at once 

 distinguishable by the markedly separate calices, and also by their number, &c, In 

 V. juncea, again, the pinnules are very slight, and the calices are not separate ; in 



