85 



fold of the oesophageal portion of the polyp wall, this fold appearing as a scalloped membrane 

 stretched across the calyx, much as the velum is stretched across the bottom of a medusa. A 

 similar fold is seen in species of Mcnclla, and also in a number of species of Plexauridae. The 

 operculum is either absent or so feebly developed as to escape notice. 



Spicules. These are usually in the form of rounded plates or scales, thick and clumsy 

 in appearance. They are covered with even tubercles which appear on the edges as rather 

 regular projections, giving a ctenate aspect. These scales are of many sizes and forms, but are 

 not decidedly branched or forked as in the type of this genus. There are a few small spindles 

 and radiate spicules. 



Color. The colony is bright orange, or terra cotta color (in alcohol) the spicules being 

 of the same color. 



Menella Gray (emended). 



Menclla Gray. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 4th Series, Vol. V, 1870, p. 407. 



Menella Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1S89, p. Llll. 



Menella Nutting. Hawaiian Alcyonaria. Proceedings U.S. National Museum, XXXIV, 1908, p. 584. 



Like many of Gr.w's genera, Menella was not characterized with sufficient detail to 

 enable one 'to be sure as to the form he had in hand. His original description was as follows: 



"Coral cylindrical, end (of the branches) clavate, rounded, surface spiculose. Polyp cells 

 on all sides of the cylindrical stem and branches, close together, forming a rough, spiculose 

 surface with hexagonal areolae. Polyps retractile : when retracted convex, with an oblong concavity 

 .surrounded with spicules. Axis horny, black". 



Wright and Studer added nothing to the definition, but simply paraphrased it. Nutting 

 called attention to what appeard to be the most important character, and condensed the 

 original definition. The following represents the writer's opinion concerning the characterization 

 of the genus : 



Colony sparingly branched, the branches round, with thick ccenenchyma. Calyces very 

 shallow, elliptical in cross section. When retracted, the polyps sink below the calyx margin, 

 leaving an oblong depression and with their walls forming a series of eight infolded soft lobes 

 around and inside of the margin. Spicules various, true spindles being rare. 



The only known species, and type of the genus, are Menella indiea Gray, and the two 

 new species in the Siboga collection. The writer does not now believe that his M. grandiflora 

 from the Hawaiian region should have been placed in this genus. 



I. Menella I'lideseens new species. (Plate XV, figs, i, ia\ Plate XXII, fig. 13). 



Stat. 66. Bank between Islands of Bahuluwang and Tambolungan, south of Saleyer. 8 to 10 



meters. Coral. 

 Stat. 71. Makassar and Surroundings. Up to 32 meters. Sand. 



Stat. 315. Anchorage East of Sailus Besar, Paternoster Islands. Up to 36 meters. Coral. 



# 



Colony incomplete, unbranched, rod-like, attaining a height of 9 cm. It is .slightly angulated 



