SYDNEY J. HICKSON. 



Genus Juncella. 



In the family Gorgonellidae there are four genera recognised by systeraatists, which are 

 undoubtedly closely related. These are Juncella, Ellisella, Scirpeana and Scirpearella. They 

 are all either unbranched or, as compared with other Gorgonellids, slightly branched, and the 

 coenenchym is usually thick. 



All the known species were at one time included in the genus Juncella and the first 

 attempt to separate them was made by Studer (20) in 1878. This author placed the species 

 with prominent verrucae and with club- or double club-shaped spicules in the genus Juncella, 

 and those with not prominent verrucae and without club-shaped spicules in the genus 

 Ellisella. 



The use of the distinction between prominent and not-prominent verrucae for generic 

 purposes is very inconvenient and the source of many mistakes. There are many specimens 

 that on the gi-ound of the character of the spicules should be placed in the species Juncella 

 {Ellisella) elongata which have prominent verrucae. Eidley (18) points out moreover that in 

 his specimen of Juncella juncea the veiTucae are withdrawn above, but prominent and appressed 

 below. The determination of the question whether any particular verruca is to be called 

 prominent or not prominent is in many cases very difficult, and can be of little scientific 

 importance unless all the specimens compared have been killed and preserved in the same 

 manner. The question therefore becomes one in which we are driven to determine the generic 

 distinction between two alcyonarians by the character of the spicules alone. In some cases 

 perhaps this may be necessary and possible, but the spicules technically known as clubs show 

 much variation, and when the handle is enlarged are very similar to spicules known as double- 

 clubs. I doubt very much whether it is wise, in the present state of knowledge concerning 

 the growth of spicules, to put too much stress upon fine distinctions of their shape. It may 

 be pointed out in this connection, that the Cape specimens, which in a former paper (7) were 

 referred to, the species Juncella elongata would, if judged by the character of the spicules, 

 alone be placed in a distinct genus. On these grounds therefore I have little hesitation in 

 referring all the species hitherto included in the two genera Juncella and Ellisella to the 

 former genus, thereby suggesting the abolition of the latter. 



The genera Scirpearia and Scirpearella, however, appear to me to be still good genera. 

 The arrangement of prominent verrucae in two rows in the former genus and in a spiral manner 

 in the latter, combined with other characters, renders them relatively easy of identification. 



The principal species of the genus Juncella in its wider sense that are now known may 



be arranged as follows: 



/Juncella juncea (Pallas). 



\ Juncella gemmacea (Milne-Edwards). 

 Juncella fiexilis (iStuder). 

 With club-shaped spicules. {juncella fragilis (Ridley). 



Juncella harhadensis (W. and S.). 

 \Juncella 7-acemosa (W. and S.). 



Without club-shaped spicules. 



(Juncella elongata (Val). 

 Juncella calamus (Studer). 

 Juncella maculata (Studer). 

 ^Juncella spiralis (Hickson). 



