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



prominent, convex, in two or three rather irregular series up each edge. Axis pale 

 brown, wart-like, formed of rather loosely concentric fibrous laminpe, containing a large 

 quantity of calcareous matter, and effervescing with muriatic acid. The bark when dry 

 is rather thin, smooth, hard and granular within " {loc. cit., p. 159). 



To this KfiUiker, while changing the generic name to Schrogorgia, adds—" The 

 sjiicules of the coenenchyma are thickly warted spindles, yellow or colourless, of from 

 O'lO to 0'16 mm. in length, besides some simjjle forms which in Schrogorgia verriculata 

 appear as birotate spicules, with the edges of the wheels toothed. The polyp spicules, 

 small warty spindles arranged as usual." 



Dr. Gray's generic apellation, however feebly diagnosed, has without doubt the 

 priority. The two species figured and described by Esper are in the Challenger 

 collection ; a third species is referred to by Kolliker, without any description or locality 

 given, under the name of Sclerogorgia patula (Ellis), as from the Vienna Museum. 

 Ellis's species, which he received preserved in spirits, was found in the Mediterranean 

 and sent to him by the celebrated Donati. It is a branched and partly pinnate form of a 

 very bright red colour ; but it would be difficult from the short description to recognise 

 the species. 



A fourth species from Japan, here described as new, requires a slight emendation of 

 the genus, the diagnosis of which may stand as follows ; the peculiar structure of the 

 axes, so well described by Kolliker, we call sclerogorgic. 



Colony branched, branches either simple or anastomosing. Central axis of stem and 

 branches " sclerogorgic," nutrient canals on either side of axis ; coenenchyma thin, friable. 

 Polyps completely retractile, with or without verrucse. Spicules spindles, double spindles, 

 spiny or warty ; birotate, or in the polyps needle-shaped. 



The following species of this genus were found during the voyage of the Challenger : — 



1. Suherogorgia suberosa (Pallas). 



Gurgonia suberosa, Pallas, Elench. Zooph., p. 19L 



,, „ Esper, Fortsetz. der Pflanzenthiere, p. 170 (not Gorgonia suberosa, Ellis and 



Solander). 

 Suberogorgia suberosa, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1857, p. 159. 

 Sclerogorgia suberosa, Kolliker, Icones Histiologicse, p. 142, 1865. 

 Suberogorgia suberosa, Ridley, Zool. Coll. H.M.S. " Alert," p. 349. 



A small specimen of this species was taken in a dredging made ofi" the Admiralty 

 Islands at a depth of between 16 and 25 fathoms. The geographical distribution of 

 this species is interesting. Pallas and Esper give the coasts of Western Africa and the 

 West Indies as the localities known to them ; Studer found it in the Mermaid Straits, 

 Dampier Archipelago, and in North-west Australia (Indian Ocean); Dr. Coppinger {Jide 



