14 ALCYONARIA, ANTIPATHAEIA, MADREPOEARIA. 



Eunice philocorallia, many of the colonies of the three species are 

 very similar in their manner of growth. Many of the specimens in 

 the collection exhibit these tubular growths of coenenchym with the 

 worm inside. (See F. Buchanan, Froc. li.D.S., viii. (N.S.), 1893, p. 169, 

 and Haddon, I.e., part iv. 1895.) 



(3) If we are prepared to agree with the current views that the 

 three species are really distinct, then we must suppose that very 

 frequently a larva of one species becomes fixed to a colony of 

 another, and the coenenchym of the two colonies becomes fused or 

 amalgamated. So intimate is this amalgamation of the coenenchyms 

 that it is impossible to tell by surface views or the examination of the 

 ground surface of the coral where the coenenchym belonging to the 

 one colony begins and the other ends. This difficulty has been 

 observed by de Lacaze Duthiers. He writes (I.e., p. 149) : " Les deux 

 especes [Lophohelia prolifera and Amphihdia oculata\ tres souvent 

 sent greffees I'une sur I'autre et se ressemblent extremement." And 

 in attempting to distinguish between them he writes (p. 151): 

 " J'avais pense que peut-etre la texture intime microscopique donnerait 

 quelques indications. Apres avoir fait des coupes minces bien polies, 

 je n'ai pas trouve de grandes differences entre la tige de VAmphihelia 

 et celle du Zojohohclia." 



The position of the problem appears to be as follows : All the 

 authors who have examined the species agree that they are very 

 variable, but no one has yet made a serious attempt to determine the 

 range of variation in any one species. Until we know whether the 

 species really merge and overlap, or do not, it is little better than a 

 waste of time to attempt to determine the species by the ordinary 

 methods of the systematist. To throw some light on the problem a 

 systematic study should be made of the range of variation in one or 

 more large colonies of the three " supposed " species. . The collection 

 obtained by the Huxley affords sufficient and excellent material for 

 such an investigation, and it may be suggested that such an investiga- 

 tion might be undertaken. 



