5 



Verrii.l (1S69 — 71) defines the genus as follows: 



"SpicLila of the coenenchyma mostly small double-spindles of two forms, longer and 

 shorter. Branches usually slender, subdividing in various ways; often reticulate, pinnate or 

 bipinnate. Cells usually prominent, sometimes flat, mostly in lateral rows or bands". 



Studer (1887) gives a definition which is acceptable for our purpose, and of which the 

 following is a translation : 



"Colony variously branched, more or less flabellate, often reticulate. Calyces small or 

 included, usually disposed laterally with naked coenenchyma between. On the bare surfaces the 

 water-vascular canals are indicated by furrows. Spicules minute double spindles of longer and 

 shorter forms. 



The type of this genus is Leptogorgia viminalis (Esper). A large number of species 

 have been assigned to this genus, especially by Verrill, and most of the species in the following 

 list are given on his authority, the present writer having been unable to examine the types or 

 to identify the species by the usually very brief descriptions. 



Leptogorgia adamsii Verrill, L. alba Verrill, L. agassizii Verrill, L. arbtiscula (Philippi), 

 L. arena fa (Val.), L. aurantiaea (\^al.), L. aiistraliensis Ridley, L. boryana (Val.), L. calif ornica 

 Verrill, L. caroliiiensis Verrill, L. earyi Verrill, L. canlicnlus (Val.), L. cjispidata Verrill, L. 

 divergeiis Studer, L. diffiisa Verrill, L. florce Verrill, L. floridiana Verrill, L. flavida Verrill, 

 L. flexilis Verrill, L. labiata Verrill, L. media Verrill, L. viineacea (Esper), L. mineata Verrill, 

 L. nobilis \'errill, L. peruana Verrill, L. piiDiata (Lamk.), L. porissiiiia Edwards and Haime, 

 L. pulclira Verrill, L. p2imila Verrill, L. purpnracea (Pallas), L. purpurea (Pallas), L. rainulits 

 (Val.), L. rigida Verrill, L. rosea (Lamk.), L. rutila Verrill, L. tennis Verrill, L. setacea Verrill, 

 L. sangninolcnta (Pallas), L. sarnicntosa (Esper), L. sanguinca (Val.), L. stenobrachis Verrill, 

 L. teres Verrill, L. torresia Thomson and Herderson, L. zvebbiana (Val.), iC. virgea (Val.), 

 L. virgjtlata (Lamk.), and the species described beyond. 



Many of the above named species have been so inadequately described that identification 

 is practically impossible. In view of this fact the writer thinks it better to describe the single 

 species in the Siboga Collection as new, although he is fully aware that it may be one of the 

 species in the above list. 



I. Leptogorgia formosa new species (Plate I, figs. 2, 2a; Plate III, fig. 2). 

 Slat. 33. Bay of Pidjot, Lombok. 22 meters and less. 



Colony (dried) strictly flabellate, not reticulate although there are a very few anastomoses. 

 Stem and branches round. The main .stem extends almost straight to the distal end of the 

 colony. Height 11.8 cm., spread 7.3 cm.; diameter of main stem 2.4 mm. About i cm. above 

 its disk-shaped base of attachment the main stem gives off two very strong opposite branches. 

 Above this it gives off irregularly lateral branches at short intervals throughout its length. 

 These in turn give off numerous lateral branchlets most of which are simple, but some of which 

 rebranch until branchings of the fourth order are attained. The whole forms a densely branched 

 typically flabellate structure which appears at first sight to be reticulate, but is not really so. 



