209 



spiny spindles, ono-sided si)iny clubs, echinulate discs, warty spindles and 

 double stars ; also peculiarly formed ' Blattkeulen ' whose dentate folia project 

 beyond the coinenchyma and give it a prickly appearance. In species with a 

 well-developed ccenenchynia, where the polyps are somewhat aj)art from one 

 another, the one-sided S])iny spindles predominate, while in others with closely 

 packed polyps the ' Blattkeulen ' or spiny discs are present. The axis is always 

 horny and frequently compressed." 



Summan/ of Previoudy Described Species of Echinogorgia. 



E. flahellmn, Esper. Ridley, " Eeport on the Collections of H.M.S. 'Alert,'" 



p. 337. 



The spicules of the general cortex are especially noteworthy : — 



I. Fusiform, pointed at each end and generally curved, with scattered pro- 

 minent, usually simple, tubercles often of large size, 0"21 to 042 mm. in length 

 and ()-053 to (V()87 in breadth (including tubercles). 



II. Larger fusiform with lilunt ends, slightly curved, with blunt tubercles on 

 one side and sharper on the other, 0'.36 mm. x 0-177 mm. to 0'25 mm. 



III. Irregular tri- and sex-radiate with rough tubercles ; maximum dia- 

 meter 0"177 mm. to 0'25 ram., that of single arms, 0"03o mm. to 0053 mm. 



IV. A form of " Blattkeule " very varied in shape, 0'25 mm. to 0'35 mm. in 

 length and breadth. 



The spicules of the verrucre are simple, fusiform and slightly tuberculate. 



Note. — Ridley's specimens were more extended laterally than that figured 

 by Esper. The mean diameter of the branches was \ (?) to I'o mm., but one 

 specimen from Port Curtis had a mean diameter of 2 mm. The fundamental 

 colour is a light yellowish-brown. In some young specimens from the Straits of 

 Malacca and Queensland anastomosis is wholly wanting. 



Localities : Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fathoms ; Port Curtis, Queens- 

 land, 5-11 fathoms. 



Ridley is of opinion that Echinogorgia is allied to Plexaura. 



E. pseudosasmpo, Kiilliker. {n) Kolliker, " Icon. Hist.," vol. i. p. 136 ; {h) Wright 

 and Studer, " ' Challenger' Report," vol. xxxi. p. 119. Plate XXIII. fig. 

 9; Plate XXV. fig. 5; {c) Thomson and Henderson, "Ceylon Pearl 

 Oyster Reports ". 



{a) KoUiker's E. pseudosassapo was identified by him with Esper's Gor- 

 gonia samppo, var. reticulata, the type specimen of which was re-investigated. 

 Kolliker gave no additional description but figured two of the characteristic 

 echinulate discs. 



{b) Richly branched in one plane, anastomosing to form a loose network. 



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