Siimmari/ of Previously Described Species of Ecliinomiiricea. 



The genus Eriunomnricea is closely related to /'((nwiuricea, but may be 

 usefully distinguished by the characteristic form of verruca spicule, namely, a 

 long slender shaft, smooth or tuberculate, springing from a very divaricate basal 

 portion. The genus is also closely related to Acamptogonjia, but may be 

 distinguished by the characteristic spicules just referred to, and by the fact that 

 the rough surface of Arimptogorgia is due to projecting folia, whereas in 

 Echinomuricea it is due to projecting single spines. There seems no doubt, 

 however, that Paramuricea, Acmnptogmyia and EcJiinonmricea are nearly re- 

 lated genera. Between Acanthogorgia and Echinomuricea there is a resemb- 

 lance in the possession of spicules, with a long spine rising from a divaricate 

 base, but the architecture of the verruc?e is quite different in the two genera. 

 The species Aranthogorgiagragi, Johnson, and A . atlanth-a, Johnson, which Ridley 

 referred to Echinomuricea, were rightly referred by Verrill to Paramuricea. 

 In reality, Acanthogorgia and Echinomuricea are somewhat far apart. 



Echinomuricea indmialaccensis, Ridley, " Zool. Report on the Collections of 

 H.M.S. 'Alert,'" p. 336. Plate XXXVI. figs. B and B' ; Plate 

 XXXVIII. figs, d to d'". Thomson and Henderson, "Ceylon Pearl 

 Oyster Report," p. -291. 



Colony erect, branched almost exclusively in one plane, at angles of about 

 75°. Branches cylindrical, slightly clavate. Axis very tough and flexible, very 

 dark brown at the base, paler in the branches. Cortex thin, red, arenaceous 

 in appearance. Verrucse crowded over all parts of the cortex leaving but small 

 intervals, prominent but truncate, resembling low turrets ; the rim is beset with 

 scattered spine-like spicules with branched bases, about two-deep ; the points 

 project directly upwards in the expanded state. Spicules : Cortex (1) Conical, 

 with rounded broad end tapering to a moderately sharp smaller end, the whole 

 thickly covered with very coarse blunt tubercles, 032 mm. to 0-35 mm. by 0-123 

 mm. to 0-177 mm. (2) Conical to fusiform with prominent divaricate tubercles 



