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GENUS VIRGULARIA, Lamarck. 



This genus is represented in the collection by four species, two of which 

 are new. There are also two young forms, too immature for exact specific 

 determination. The following table adapted from Kolliker shows the syste- 

 matic position of the " Investigator " specimens : — 



I. Polyps borne by distinct pinnules : — 



(A) Polyps at most 15 in number. 



(B) Polyps over 15 in number. 



18-25 polyps V. elegam, Gray. 

 40-45 ,, V. ornata, n. sp. 



60-65 „ V. fused, n. sp. 



II. Polyps borne by indistinct pinnules or ridges : — 



10-20 polyps V. jiimea, Pallas. 



Virgularia elegans, Gray. 



Belonging to this species there is a single elongated colony, with the basal 

 portion broken off. It is 170 mm. in length and bears rudimentary pinnules 

 to the very base. At the top of the rachis the pinnules are separated by inter- 

 vals of 2 mm., but at the base they are closely contiguous. There are about 25 

 polyps in a single row on each pinnule. The rachis at the widest part is 4 mm. 

 in breadth. The polyps are distinct in the upper part but are only marked off 

 by constrictions in the pinnule in the lower portion. Apart from its larger 

 size the specimen agrees closely with that described in the "Appendix to 

 Alcyonaria, Ceylon Pearl Oyster Keport" (Thomson, 1905). 



The colour is creamy- white. 



Locality : Orissa Coast, Marine Survey, 10 fathoms. 



Previously recorded from Ceylon Seas. 



Virgularia juncea, Pallas. 



A single very slender specimen 435 mm. in length. For the first 145 mm. 

 from the top the pinnules are distinct and separated by about 1 '5 nnn. For the 

 next 155 mm. they are closely apposed and diminish gradually in length, so 

 that for the last 45 mm. of the rachis they appear as minute dots. They over- 

 lap on the meta-rachidial surface, but leave a bare space on the pro-rachidial which 

 is marked by a longitudinal groove. There is an elongated expansion at the 

 base, but the rudimentary pinnules encroach on this region. The axis is 

 cylindrical and disappears in the lower portion of the bladder. The specimen 

 agrees closely with KoUiker's description and figure. The colour is creamy- 

 white but the pinnules in the upper region are bluish. 



