XXXVl THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



furnished by Melitodes albocincta, Ridley, but it is possible this may be a sexual 

 distinction among the autozooids. We adopt the name Melitodidse for the family, from 

 its typical genus, and the following genera may be accepted : — 



1. Melitodes, Verrill. 4. Psilacabaria, Ridley. 



2. Mopsella, Gray, emend. Ridley. 5. Wrightella, Gray. 



3. Acabaria, Gray. ' 6. Clathraria, Gray. 



7. Parisis, Verrill. 



1. Melitodes, Verrill, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. i. p. 38, 1863. 



Melitsea, Lamarck, M^m. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, t. i. p. 410, 1815 (preoccupied by Fabricius, 

 1808). 



In the species of this genus all the joints are penetrated by longitudinal canals : 

 the spicules of the coenenchyma are either large warty or kneed -spindles. 



2. Mopsella, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1857, p. 248. 



Melitella, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1859, p. 485. 



Mopsella, emeTid. Ridley, Rep. Zool. Coll. H.M.S. "Alert," Alcyonaria, p. 258. 



In the species of this genus also the thicker joints of the axis are penetrated by 

 canals. The spicules are spindles and foliaceous clubs. 



3. Acabaria, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, vol. ii. p. 444. 

 Like Mopsella, but the spicules of the cortex are solely spindles. 



4. Psilacabaria, Ridley, Rep. Zool. Coll. H.M.S. " Alert," Alcyonaria, p. 363. 



Without foliaceous clubs. The branches arise from the nodes almost at right 

 angles. The annular tubercles have large spindle-shaped cortical spicules. The polyps 

 are spirally disposed. 



5. Wrightella, Gray, Cat. Lithophytes Brit. Mus., 1870, p. 31, eriiend. Ridley, Rep. 



Zool. Coll. H.M.S. " Alert," Alcyonaria, p. 580. 



Mopsea, Klunzinger, Korall. des rothen Meeres, pL ii. 1877, p. 57. 



The branches and twigs are compressed; the projecting polyp calyces occur especially 

 on the sides. In the cortex there are foliaceous clubs. There are no nutritive canals 

 in the axis. 



