Dr. J. E. Gray on two new Genera of Zoophytes. 147 



porte des parties chaudes de l'Amerique qui n'oiit pas moins d'un 

 metre de longueur*. II en existe de semblables dans l'lnde ; et il a 

 ete trouve dans l'ile de Ceylan une grande espece de Ver de terre 

 dont on a propose de faire un genre sous le nom de Megascolex.' — 

 WOvbiyny, Diet. Univ. d' Hist. Nat. vol. vii. p. 431. 



" Faithfully yours, 

 "Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., fyc. "J. Emerson Tennent. 



" I expect another and, I hope, a larger specimen from another 

 district of Ceylon, which I shall be happy to submit to you on its 

 arrival." 



Description of Two New Genera of Zoophytes (Sole- 

 nocaulon and bellonella) discovered on the north 

 Coast of Australia by Mr. Rayner. By Dr. John 

 Edward Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., F.L.S., etc. 



Among the numerous interesting animals collected by Mr. Rayner 

 during the voyage of H. M. S. ' Herald' is anew form of coral, nearly 

 allied to Gorgonia, and especially to the coral called Coelogorgia by 

 M. Milne-Edwards, but very distinct from it. I therefore send a 

 description of it to the Society for publication in the ' Proceedings.' 



Solenocaulon. 



The coral coriaceous, tubular, circular, and simple below, com- 

 pressed, subquadrangular, tortuous, and more or less branched above, 

 the branches being similar in size and form to the main 

 stem. The main stem and branches furnished with 

 more or less elongate, subsolid, slender branchlets, 

 which are placed on the edge of the large holes in the 

 main stem and branches which communicate with the 

 main tube. These branchlets (and sometimes the 

 branches at the base of them) are furnished with large 

 cells for the polypes, which are placed in one (more fre- 

 quently in two) series on each side of the branchlets, 

 and sometimes the series are continued on the main stem 

 or branches at the bottom of the branchlets. The polype-cells are 

 rather large, circular, nearly superficial, and furnished with a cup 

 divided into eight conical connivent lobes, each lobe being formed of 

 some transverse spicules at the base and some obliquely- placed spi- 

 cules diverging from each lateral edge towards the top above, 



1. Solenocaulon tortuosum. 



Hub. North Australia. 



This genus seems to form a particular group of the Alcyonaires, 

 which may be called after this genus Solenocaulonidce, characterized 

 by the tubular form of the axis, the tubes being formed of a thin 

 coriaceous substance. The smaller branches are subsolid and cel- 

 lular within, but they soon become hollow. It has been said that 

 the tubular form arises from the abortion of the epithelial tissue of 

 the centre of the axis. This may be true if we can regard the large 

 * A metre is 39-^j inches. 



11* 



