Turali.Ferrmo"^] I^oyal Microscopical Sodeitj. 89 



With the small development of the coenenchyma just alluded to, 

 a corresponding minuteness in the size of the spicula might be 

 reasonably anticipated; and the fact that the members of the genus 

 and its allies contain smaller forms than are to be met with in any 

 other, scarcely takes us by surprise. The type predominant through- 

 out the Leptogorgife is represented at Plate XLIL, Figs. 15, 16, 

 consisting of short fusiform spicula, bearing two, four, or more 

 transverse rows of tuberculae. This form is constant in the fol- 

 lowing species of Milne Edwards which I have had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining, i, e., L. rosea, Webhiana, viminea, sanguinea, 

 virgulata, and virgea. Exceptional forms occur in L. Boryana and 

 aurantiaca ; the former possessing a type peculiar to Juncella, 

 to be hereafter described ; and the latter, one closely assimilating 

 that prevalent in Echinogorgia, and with which it was associated 

 when referring to that genus. 



The Leptogorgian type of spicula is very widely disseminated, 

 and crops up with various modifications and associations in each of 

 the following genera of Milne Edwards, viz. Lojjhogorgia, Ptero- 

 gorgia, Xiphigorgia, Bhijndigorgia, Phyllogorgia, Hymenogorgia, 

 Phi/cogorgia, and Gorgonella. 



This relative conformity of the spicula has induced Kolliker to 

 group the representatives of the majority of these genera {Phyllo- 

 gorgia and Phycogorgia, to which he makes no reference, being 

 alone excepted) under the one generic title of Gorgonia. He, more- 

 over, incorporates with these those true Gorgonite possessing the 

 attenuate fusiform and iagenate spicula before described. His motive 

 for this last arrangement is quite inexplicable, and is certainly not a 

 natural one, since it includes organisms differing most essentially in 

 both their external contour and internal structure. 



Proceeding with the system of classification adopted by Milne 

 Edwards, the next genus we arrive at is Lopliogorgia, and which he 

 characterizes as follows : — ■ 



Loplwgorgia. — Polypary spread out in the form of a plume 

 or fan, having one or more of the branches thick and flattened. 



The spicula of the single species, L. palma, essentiaUy follow 

 the Leptogorgian type; and though the main branches of the 

 polypary are thick and flattened, it is a significant fact that the 

 terminal ones are slender and cylindrical, and beset with minute 

 slit-like polyp apertures precisely similar to what we meet with 

 in the genus Leptogorgia. 



Pterogorgia. — Polypary ramifying or bi-pinnate, flattened, 

 having the calices disposed on the two surfaces in longitudinal 

 series on each side of a median line. 



All the species of this genus that I have examined contain 

 spicula agreeing with the Leptogorgian type; several of them, 

 however, possess diflerent forms in association with this type. 



