16 



Psammogorgia Verrill. 



ill. American Journal <>f Science and Arts, XLV, 1868, p. 413. 

 Verrill. IVansactions Com my of Sciences, Vol. I, Part 2, 1867 — yi, 



p. 414. 



• and Studer. Challengei Reports, the Alcyonaria, [889, p. ux. 

 /'.>..". Nutting. Alcyonaria of the Californian t » >.i--t . Proceedings "f the LI. S. National 



Museum. Vol. XXXV, 1909, p. 



The original description of this genus by Verrill is as follows: 



'Corallum dichotomous or subpinnate, with round branches. Axis horn-like. Ccenenchyma 



moderately thick, the surface finely granulated with smal! rough spicula. Cells scattered, some- 



times flat, more frequentl) raised in the form of rounded verrucae. Polyps with rather large 



ated, slender, warty spindles at the bases of the tentacles. Spicules of the ccenenchyma 



mostly short, thick and very rough, warty spindles and rough, warty clubs of moderate size". 



As the author lias remarked on another occasion (loc. cit.) this genus dons not conform 

 very well t<> the accepted characters of the family Plexauridae, particularly in the absence of 

 regularity in the disposition of the watervascular canals. 



The species grouped together by professor Verrill under the name Psammogorgia seem 

 to be nearer this family. however, than any other thus far described, and the present writer 

 prefers to follow Verrill in regarding it as an aberrant <^enus of Plexaurida- rather than to 

 raise it t<> family rank. 



The type of the genus is Psammogorgia arbuscula Verrill. The other known species 

 are Psammogorgia fusca Verrill, P. fucosa Verrill, P. gracilis Verrill, P. simplex Nutting, 

 P. spauldingi Nutting, P. leres Verrill and P. torreyi Nutting. 



1. Psammogorgia arbuscula Verrill. 



Echinogorgia arbuscula Verrill. Proceedings Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. X, 



1866, p. 329. 

 Psammogorgia arbuscula Verrill. American Journal of Science and Arts, XIV, 1868, p. 413. 

 Psammogorgia arbuscula Verrill. Transactions Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. 



Vol. I. Part 2, [867 — 71, p. 414. 

 Psammogorgia arbuscula Nutting. Alcyonaria of the Californian Coast, 1909, p. 719. 



,3'.8 S., [32°48'.8E. Between Kei Islands. 560 meters. Mud. 



1 ilony subflabellate in form, attaining a height of 22 cm. About 3 cm. from its base 



the main stem divides into three branches, two of which are subequal and form the main part 



of the colony. The third is smaller and bears two short, distant branches on the same side. 



The other two are joined by the anastomoses of two branchlets, one from each. One of them 



off two other branches trom one side, and the other bnt one. The terminal branches are 



all long and slender, in one case attaining a Iength of about 19 cm. They are of about the 



diameter 3 mm.) throughout. The calyces are unevenly distributed on all sides of the 



. although there are long bare species on the back of some of the branches. Otherwise 



the\ ibout 2.5 mm. apart. 



