214 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 105 



be assigned to that family. Because of this fact, as well as the 

 similarity of their spicules, it is clear that Plumicjorgia should be 

 reassigned to the Ifalukellidae. 



Genus Plurnigorgia Nutting, 1910 

 Plumigorgia hydroides Nutting 



Plate 3,/,gf 



Plumigorgia hydroides Nutting, 1910b, p. 32, pi. 9, figs. 3, 3a, pi. 11, fig. 4 (Pearl 

 Bank, Sulu Archipelago; Biaru Island, northern Celebes). — Stiasny, 1940, 

 p. 248, fig. 0, pi. 11, figs. 22, 23 (Binongko, Toekang Besi Islands). 



In this species the calyces are biserial along the branches and twigs 

 (pi. 3,/). The photographs published by Nutting and by Stiasny 

 give a good idea of the general appearance of the colonies. The 

 spicules are rather thin and scale-like, and their median constriction 

 is slight (pi. 3,fif). 



The U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross dredged typical speci- 

 mens at Station 5321, off Ibugos Island in the China Sea, in 26 fathoms, 

 Nov. 9, 1908. 



Plumigorgia welitii, new species 

 Plate Z,d,e 



Description: Colony about 22 cm. in height, flexible, regularly 

 pinnately branched. Terminal twigs slender, about 0.5 mm. in diam- 

 eter. Polyps on all sides, retractile within low verrucae. The spicules 

 are characteristically small, strongly constricted rodlets (pi. S,e) 

 measuring 0.045-0.065 mm. in length; some are so constricted as to 

 suggest a pair of tangent disks. Spicules of the verrucae sometimes in 

 eight interseptal bands, sometimes not clearlj'" so. Tentacles unarmed. 

 On the branchlets there are small areas free of spicules, suggesting the 

 presence of siphonozooids, but histological confirmation of these 

 structures has not yet been made. 



HoLOTYPE : USNM 49798. Ai'no Atoll, Marshall Islands, from coral 

 knoll in southeast corner of lagoon, 10-18 fathoms. Collected July 31, 

 1950, by John W. Wells, Arno Atoll Survey team, Pacific Science 

 Board. 



Remarks: Plumigorgia wellsi is a species larger and stouter than P. 

 hydroides, from which it differs further in the general distribution of 

 autozooids and in the shape of its spicules. 



Family Ellisellidae Gray, 1859 



= Elliselladae Gray; Gorgonellidae Auctt. 



Nomenclature: The nomenclature of the genera usually called 

 Gorgonella Valenciennes and Scirpearia Cuvier is rather tangled. The 



