ALCYONABIA, 337 



broad; the riiu is beset with scattered spine-like spicula with 

 branched bases, about two deep ; tlie points project directly up- 

 wards in the expanded state. 



Spicules of general cortex : — (i.) Conical, with rounded broad end 

 tapering to moderately sharp smaller end, the whole thickly covered 

 with very coarse blunt tubercles; size *32 to - 35 by *123 to -177 

 niillim. (ii.) Conical to fusiform, with prominent proliferating 

 tubercles ; size about '38 by 4 to -II millim. (iii.) Tri- to quadri- 

 radiate, the arms stout or slender, pointed, covered with rough 

 tubercles like those of (ii.); about "53 millim. in maximum length and 

 •07 to -14 millim. in maximum diameter of the arms, (iv.) Verruca- 

 spicules with expanded ramifying basal portion, whose branches 

 are lobose and marginally denticulate and bear low scattered spines ; 

 the upright projecting portion or spine which helps to form the 

 fringe on the rim of the verrucas is smooth, approximately straight, 

 and tapers from its base to a sharp point ; total length of spicule 

 •035 to 'G5 millim., total breadth -177 to '46 millim. ; projecting 

 spine alone -25 to *37 by '053 to *087 millim. (basal diameter). 

 Also less developed forms of the same type as (iv.). The zooids 

 themselves contain long curved fusiform spicules with smooth ends. 



JIab. Port Curtis, Queensland, 5-1 1 fms., bottom sand and shells ; 

 Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms., bottom rock and coral ; 

 Warrior Reef, Torres Straits, bottom pearl-shells. 



Obs. This species is perhaps more nearly allied to E. ailantica and 

 E. grayi than to E. coccinea, Stimpson, from which it differs in the 

 non-tuberculation of the spine of the large verruca-spicule. Verrill's 

 specimens were unbranched, but this may have been due to youth. 

 The long-spined marginal spicule of the verruca of A.canikogorgia 

 ailantica is exactly like that of this species ; but that species differs 

 from the present in having the verruca? less distinctly marked out 

 by a spicular crown and by the dark brown colour. The new 

 species is represented in the present collection by three dry speci- 

 mens and one in spirit ; the largest measures 230 millim. (9 inches) 

 in maximum height, and 130 millim. (5 inches) in maximum breadth. 

 Specimens occur in the British Museum from Hongkong (coll. 

 Dr. Harlan). 



ECHIN0G0RGIA, KolliTcer. 



In the following descriptions I have not thought it necessary to 

 describe the spicules of the verrucas in all cases, as they appear to 

 exhibit the same main characters throughout these species of Echino- 

 gorgia and Plexaura. 



12. Echinogorgia flabellum. 

 Antipathes flabellum, Esper, Pflanzenthiere, ii. p. 139, Antipath. 



Gorgonia pseudo-antipathes, id. op. cit. Fortsetz. ii. p. 32, pi. liv. 



(nee Gorgonella pseudo-antipathes, Kblliker, Icon. Histiol. p. 140, 



pi. xviii. tig. 42). 

 ? Gorgonia cancellata, Dana, Zooph. U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 658. 



z 



