"j°"urnai,Trj?i?7aT J^oijol Microscoptcal Sociehj. 85 



In addition to the species above mentioned, I would also refer to 

 this genus two others not alluded to by Kolliker: these are, 

 Illii])idigoi'gia coardata, M. Edw.((x. coardata, Lamk.), and Muricea 

 fungi/era of the same author. The spicula of Gorgonia granifera, 

 Lamk., which neither Milne Edwards nor Kolliker refers to, also har- 

 monize with the Echinogorgian type just described. 



With the typical spicula last alluded to, a simple echiuulate 

 arcuate form, not referred to by Kolliker, appears to be constantly 

 j)resent (Plate XLI., Fig. 19). This form of spicula is present in all 

 the three last-mentioned species, and also in BMpidigorgia stricta, 

 M. Edw. {Ecliinogorgia Sasapj^o, Klk.). 



Gorgonia Danaidis, Val., described by Milne Edwards as Lejjto- 

 gorgia aurantiaca, likewise possesses spicula approaching the pro- 

 liferous type just alluded to (Plate XLI., Fig. 25). The base of these 

 spicula, however, may be described rather as irregularly inflated 

 than laminate ; and the arcuate form not being represented, it seems 

 probable that this species may eventually form the type of a new 

 genus. 



Acanthogorgia, J. E. Gray {Paramuricea, Kolhker). — 

 Kdlliker eliminates from the genus Muricea yet another genus, 

 taking for his type the Mur. ])lacomus of Ehrenberg (Gorg. do., 

 Esp.) ; an allied species, however, had previously been described by 

 Dr. Gray, who attached to it the generic name of Acanthogorgia, 

 and which name must necessarily take the precedence of the one 

 more recently proposed by Kolliker. Comparisons of the sjiicula of 

 Acanthogorgia Grai/i, J. Y. Johnson, and Muricea iilacomus, Ehr., 

 demonstrate beyond doubt their generic identity. The spicula of 

 the various species of Acanthogorgia possess well-marked specific 

 characteristics. AU share in common an arcuate type, as in Ecliino- 

 gorgia, but they may be distinguished by being more slender and 

 less abundantly echinulate than those of that genus ; the remaining 

 spicula differ considerably according to their species; with all, 

 however, there is a certain raggedness of outline rendering them 

 readily distinguishable from those of any other genus. The two 

 forms of Paramuricea placonius, Kolliker, treated as simjile varieties 

 by the last-named author, are undoubtedly two distinct species. In 

 ills variety a, the calices are large and closely approximated on the 

 polypary, while in his variety h, they are considerably smaller and 

 sparsely scattered ; the variation in the character of their respective 

 spicula is still more prominent. The first-named variety contains 

 in abundance the form with modifications represented at Plate XLI., 

 Figs. 26, 27 : a proliferous type, having laminate prolongations 

 developed on the same plane and whose margins are more or less 

 lacinulate and echinate ; one of these prolongations is usually pro- 

 duced in the form of a taproot to a much greater length than the 

 others. 



