62 



Echinogorgia Kölliker (in part). 



Echinogorgia Kölliker. Icones Histologicse, II, 1856, p. 136. 



Echinogorgia Verrill. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Science, Vol. I, part 2, 



1867—71, p. 419. 

 Ecliinogorgia Kent. Wm. S. Monthly Microscopical Journal, Feb. 1870, p. 84. 

 Echinogorgia (in part) Wiight and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 118. 



The original clehnition of this genus, as given by Kölliker, is as follows : 



"Primnoaceen mit horniger Axe, kleinen oberflachlichen stacheligen Kalkkörpern von 

 eigenthümlicher Form und wenig oder kaum entwickelten Kelchen". 



The other writers^ cited above have accepted this genus without modification. Wright 

 and Studer describe with some care the spicules of the genus. 



In the illustrations given by Kölliker of the typical spicules, nearly all of the hgures 

 represent what appears to the present writer to be the real characteristic form which marks 

 the genus. They are all modifications of a type which consists essentially of a basal portion 

 which is embedded in the ccenenchyma, and an exposed portion which stands free. The former 

 part is an irregular mass of tuberculated projections often assuming a radiate arrangement, 

 pointing outward and downward. The exposed part is usually composed of foliaceous projections, 

 which are more or less inflated and have a smooth surface, and project directly upward from 

 the centre of the basal portion. These inflated leaf-like expansions are often so clustered as to 

 resemble a half opened tulip or rosé. 



Saville Kent has correctly figured and described this form of spicule, and recognizes 

 it as the characteristic form for the grenus Echinogorgia. 



Aside from this, there is another widely different form in the genus as defïned by Wright 

 and Studer. This is the unilateral spindle from which project, from one side, a number of 

 conspicuous, heavy, thorndike processes ; the typical spicules of the genus Thcsea, as accepted 

 by the present writer, who would include in the genus Echinogorgia only those species having 

 the peculiar spicules described above and figured by Kulliker as characteristic of the type 

 species of the genus. 



The definition for the genus Echinogorgia adopted in this work is as follows : — 

 Muriceids with verruciform calyces the walls of which contain spicules which consist of a basal 

 mass of foliaceous, irregularly branched, tuberculate projections radiating from a common centre, 

 above which arises the distal portion composed of one or more leafdike expansions, which are 

 more or less inflated, and have a smooth surface without definite branches or tuberculations. 



The type of the genus is Echinogorgia psetidosassapo Kölliker. Other species would be 

 Jic/niiogorgia aurantiaca Verrill, E. cerea (Esper), E. furfuracea (Esper), E. umbratica (Esper), 

 E. coarctica (Lamk.), E. fungifera (Lamk.), E. stricta (Lamk.), E.granifera (Lamk.), E. multispinosa 

 Thomson and Henderson, E. danaides (Val.), and the five new species found in the Siboga collection. 



1. Echinogorgia attrantiaca (Val.). 



Plexaura aurantiaca Valentine. Compte-rendu, XII, p. 557. 



Leptogorgia aurantiaca Edwards et Haime. Histoire naturelle des Coralliaires, Vol. I, 1857, p. 182. 



