﻿346 
  COLLECTTONS 
  FROM 
  MELANESIA. 
  

  

  packed 
  over 
  the 
  cortex. 
  In 
  our 
  specimen, 
  which 
  is 
  about 
  46 
  inches 
  

   (1150 
  millim.) 
  long 
  by 
  6 
  millim. 
  thick 
  at 
  the 
  present 
  (broken) 
  base, 
  

   and 
  3| 
  millim. 
  thick 
  at 
  tip, 
  the 
  basal 
  end 
  is 
  almost 
  smooth, 
  the 
  ver- 
  

   rucse 
  being 
  either 
  level 
  with 
  the 
  surface 
  or 
  depressed 
  below 
  it; 
  

   towards 
  the 
  middle 
  of 
  the 
  length 
  thej^ 
  gradually 
  become 
  projecting, 
  

   until 
  they 
  reach 
  a 
  height 
  of 
  about 
  1-25 
  millim. 
  ; 
  they 
  are 
  then 
  

   appresscd 
  against 
  the 
  surface 
  of 
  the 
  cortex. 
  A 
  distinct 
  median 
  

   groove 
  is 
  to 
  bo 
  traced 
  along 
  most 
  of 
  the 
  stem. 
  Studer 
  has 
  already 
  

   recorded 
  it 
  from 
  Australia 
  (north 
  and 
  north-west), 
  45-50 
  fms. 
  

   Hah. 
  Port 
  Denison, 
  Queensland, 
  4 
  fms. 
  

  

  19. 
  Juncella 
  gemmacea. 
  

  

  Verrucella 
  gemmacea, 
  M.-Edtvards 
  ^' 
  Haime, 
  Hist. 
  Cor. 
  p. 
  185, 
  

  

  pi. 
  B 
  2. 
  fig. 
  7. 
  

   Juncella 
  gemmacea, 
  KnlUker, 
  Icon. 
  Hidiol. 
  p. 
  141, 
  Avoodcut 
  19, 
  fig. 
  1. 
  

   ? 
  Juncella 
  flexihs, 
  Studer, 
  MB. 
  Ak. 
  Berlin, 
  1878, 
  p. 
  059. 
  

  

  The 
  spicules 
  of 
  this 
  species 
  appear 
  to 
  be 
  hardly 
  distinguishable 
  

   from 
  those 
  of 
  J. 
  juncea, 
  Pallas, 
  judging 
  by 
  a 
  comparison 
  of 
  those 
  

   obtained 
  from 
  the 
  present 
  Australian 
  specimen 
  with 
  those 
  figured 
  

   by 
  KoUiker 
  (?. 
  c). 
  The 
  present 
  collection 
  contains 
  (partlj^ 
  dry, 
  

   partly 
  iu 
  spirit) 
  five 
  si)ccimens, 
  besides 
  fragments 
  ; 
  they 
  exhibit 
  

   precisely 
  the 
  range 
  of 
  variation 
  in 
  colour 
  which 
  is 
  described 
  by 
  

   Studer 
  (MB. 
  Ak. 
  Berlin, 
  1878, 
  p. 
  (359) 
  in 
  his 
  specimens 
  from 
  80 
  

   fms. 
  ofi' 
  North-west 
  Australia. 
  They 
  are 
  mostlj' 
  flexil>le 
  and 
  some- 
  

   what 
  slender 
  as 
  compared 
  with 
  M 
  .-Edwards 
  and 
  Haime's 
  figure, 
  

   for 
  the 
  maximum 
  diameter 
  of 
  the 
  stem 
  in 
  most 
  is 
  not 
  more 
  than 
  

   (including 
  the 
  verruca3) 
  2-5 
  millim., 
  only 
  in 
  one 
  case 
  attaining 
  

   3 
  millim. 
  

  

  Hah. 
  Percy 
  Island, 
  0-5 
  fms.; 
  Port 
  Molle, 
  12-20 
  fms. 
  and 
  

   between 
  tide-marks 
  ; 
  Port 
  Denison, 
  4 
  fms. 
  ; 
  Pitzroy 
  Islaud, 
  11 
  fms. 
  

   (all 
  in 
  Queensland). 
  

  

  Ohs. 
  The 
  absence 
  of 
  this 
  wide-ranging 
  species 
  from 
  the 
  Torres 
  

   Straits 
  captiires 
  seems 
  to 
  be 
  accidental. 
  Studer's 
  species, 
  J.Jiexilis, 
  

   seems 
  hardly 
  distinct 
  from 
  it. 
  

  

  20. 
  Juncella 
  elongata, 
  var. 
  

  

  Gorgnnia 
  elongata, 
  Pallas, 
  Elcnch. 
  Zooph. 
  p. 
  179. 
  

   Juncella 
  elongata, 
  KoUiker, 
  Icon. 
  Ilistiol. 
  p. 
  138. 
  

  

  A 
  spirit-specimen 
  measuring 
  125 
  millim. 
  (5 
  inches) 
  in 
  height 
  and 
  

   90 
  millim. 
  (3^ 
  inches) 
  in 
  extreme 
  present 
  diameter 
  ; 
  it 
  diff'ers 
  from 
  

   the 
  typical 
  form 
  of 
  this 
  species 
  mainly 
  in 
  its 
  slender 
  habit, 
  indistinct 
  

   indication 
  of 
  posterior 
  bare 
  space 
  and 
  depressed 
  line, 
  and 
  pale 
  

   pinkish-yellow 
  colour. 
  The 
  spicules 
  agree 
  perfectly 
  with 
  those 
  of 
  

   the 
  species. 
  The 
  branching 
  is 
  dichotomous. 
  The 
  largest 
  perfect 
  

   terminal 
  branch 
  measures 
  03 
  millim. 
  in 
  length 
  ; 
  some 
  other 
  very 
  

   short 
  ones 
  appear 
  to 
  have 
  been 
  broken 
  during 
  life, 
  the 
  cortex 
  

  

  