VerrUl.] 326 



since the commencement of the Tertiary Period, we ought to and, 

 if not living corals identical with those of the West Indies, at least 

 elevated remains of former reefs of similar kinds, no traces of which 

 are yet known. 



Renilla amethystina Yerrill, 1. c, p. 29. 



This large and fine species was found so abundantly on mud flats at 

 low water, by Mr. Bradley, that in three days he obtained one hun- 

 dred and fifty specimens. Some of them were six inches across while 

 living. It was usually deep purple, but occasionally light purple or 

 white. According to Mr. Bradley's observations upon the living 

 polyps, these are mostly .25 of an inch long, and about .12 across the 

 expanded tentacles, the bodies of the polyps being about .06. They 

 are transparent with an opaque stomach, the eight radiating laraellas 

 showing through the walls ; around the small mouth, which is edged 

 with white, are eight radiating white points, corresponding to the 

 intervals between the tentacles ; around the base of the tentacles is a 

 brown ring, which runs down in points opposite the spaces betweer^ 

 them. Opposite the base of each polyp are two (rarely four or five) 

 bunches of little white rays. The frond is nearly transparent, but 

 highly colored by very numerous purple spicula, evenly distributed on 

 the peduncle and lower surface, but on the upper side arranged along 

 the edges of the polypiferous radiating lines, and especially concen- 

 trated about the five (rarely six or seven) white points that surround 

 the closed polyps. The polyps are arranged somewhat in quincunx, 

 in lines that radiate from the attachment of the peduncle, and curve 

 outward on the sides to the lobes. The tentacles are narrow and 

 tapering, .04 to .06 long, bearing, especially in young specimens, well 

 marked pinnae at the tip and edges, which in old ones often become re- 

 duced to a mere fringe. 



On mud flats, edge of sand beach, east of R. R. wharf, Panama. 

 F. H. Bradley. 



Gorgonia ramulus Val. 



This species occurs of both uniform white and reddish purple colors, 

 sometimes also pink, and in one specimen there are both white and 

 bright purple branches on the same stalk. It is densely ramulous with 

 prominent, often bilobed, small verrucas. Some specimens are eight 

 inches high, and as much in diameter. 



Panama, very common. F. H. Bradley. Occurs also at Acapulco, 

 Mexico, and Caj^e St. Lucas, Cal. 



