69 



are mainly lateral in position, but are also scattered sparsely on the front and back of the 

 cülony. In some places there is a distinct tendency toward a spiral arrangement of the calyces. 

 They are spaced very irregularly, being, however, about i mm. apart on the average. 



The individual calyces are short cylinders in form, a typical one measuring .8 mm. in 

 height and 1.4 mm. in diameter. Their walls are bristling with flattened or spatulate projections. 

 These points often tend to arrange themselves in vertical lines on the calyx walls. They project 

 from a triradiate base embedded in the walls. 



The polyps are but partially retractile, and rest with the collaret on the margin of the 

 calyx. The operculum is a typical one for the genus, being formed of two curved longitudinal 

 spindles with a third shorter one lying transversely at their proximal ends. The operculum is 

 rather high and the spicules well developed. The collaret is weak. 



.Sj^icules. These are large and conspicuous, the predominant form being composed of 

 a foliaceous, triradiate base from which arises a spatulate or flattened smooth projection, which 

 often seems to be more or less split or splintered at the distal end. Besides these there are 

 smaller spicules with oval or scale-like projections of the typical Acamptogo)-gia form, triradiate 

 spicules and ordinary spindles are also present. 



Color. The colony is grayish brown, axis dark brown, and the spicules colorless. 



The spicules of this species very closely resemble those of Acainptogoi'gia fruticosa 

 Germanos ; but that species is described as being of a red color. 



The genus is doubtless closely allied to the following, Villogorgia. 



Villogorgia Duchassaing et Michelotti, (emended). 



Villogorgia Duchassaing et Michelotti. Memoire sur les coralliaires des Antilles, i860, p. 32. 

 Baorella Gray. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 4th. Series, Vol. 5. 1870, p. 406. 

 Villogorgia {■\- Paramitricea Kolliker) Ridley. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5th. 



Series, Vol. 9, 1882, p. 187. 

 Villogorgia Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. Uli. 



The original description of this genus is entirely inadequate, as is so often the case with 

 the definitions of the earlier writers, and contains a very serious error in stating that the species 

 of the genus Villogorgia are without spicules. The feature is made the main distinguishing 

 mark, separating the genus from Muricea^ Thcsea^ Acis, etc. 



Ridley gives a careful discussion of the genus, and the following is condensed from his 

 definition : 



Colony flabellate, reticulate, co^nenchyma thin, calyces cylindrical, emplanted on all sides 

 of the stem and branches. The spicules of the ccenenchyma are large, 4 — 8 pointed, and spindles. 

 Those of the calyces tuberculate, fusiform and Stachelplatten. 



Ridley, however, included KCjlliker's genus Parainuricca in the genus l^tllogorgia, a 

 mistake pointed out by Wrkuit and Studek, who retained both genera on account of the 

 difference in the ojjercula. Their definition is practically adopted in the j^resent work, and the 

 salient points included in the following definition. 



