Muriceides Wright and Studer (emended). 



Murieeides Studer |- Clematissa Studer. Archiv. f. Naturgesch. Jahrg. LUI, Bd. i, pp. 54, 55. 

 Muriceides Wright and Studer -|- Clematissa Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the 

 Alcyonaria 1889, pp. Lil, LUI, 105, 106. 



Calyces cylindrical, or in the form of truncated cones, their walls filled with vertically 

 placed spindles, often modified into clubs, discs, or triradiate forms vertically placed ; but not 

 en chevron, and not forming a true crown of points around the margin. The opercular 

 spindles are placed en chevron on the tentacle bases. 



The coenenchyma contains spicules of various forms, and the branches may, or may 

 not, end in calyces. 



The union of the two genera Muriceides and Clematissa of Wright and Studer seems 

 called for on account of the failure of the character that was most emphasized by their 

 describers in separating them. The fact that in one species herein described some of the branches 

 end in calyces, while others do not, destroys the value of this distinction for even specific 

 description. They also intergrade in the character of the spicules, Stachelplatten being found in 

 both, though more predominent in Mttriceides. 



By thus combining the two genera we have a fairly homogenious genus, characterised 

 by vertically arranged spindles not en chevron in the calyx walls, and opercular spindles 

 en chevron; while the margin does not show the crown of points characteristic of the genus 

 Paramuricea. 



The type species of this genus is Muriceides fragilis W. and S. The other known 

 species are M. furcata Studer, M. obtusa (W. and S.), M. roöusta (W. and S.). M. sceptrzim 

 (Studer), M. verrilli (W. and S.), M. alba (Nutting), M. tenuis (Nutting), and the new species 

 herein described. 



1. Muriceides javensis new species. (Plate IV, figs. 1, ia). 



Stat. 7. 7 5 5'. 5 S., H4°26'E. (Near Java). 15 meters, and over. Coral. 



Colony rudely flabellate in outline, about 32 cm. in height, and with a spread of 35 cm. 

 The root is not present, and the specimen appears to be but one of the main branches of a 

 very large specimen. This branch sends forth most of its branches from its upper side, there 

 being but one from the lower side. These side branches are regularly curved upward and 

 outward, and themselves give off ultimate branchlets from their proximal portions ; the distal 

 parts often being unbranched for a considerable distance. The main branch is round in section, 

 and is 5 mm. in diameter. The other branches are often flattened in the plane of the colony. 

 The branches arising from the main branch are about 2.25 cm. apart, and often, but not 

 always, end in calyces. The coenenchyma is thick. The calyces are almost all lateral and 

 alternate, but sometimes approach a loose spiral in arrangement. There are, however, a number 

 scattered along- the front and back of the branches at wide and irre^ular intervals. 



