340 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA. 



packed over the cortex. In our specimen, which is about 4G inches 

 (1150 millim.) long by 6 millim. thick at the present (broken) base, 

 and 3| millim. thick at tip, the basal end is almost smooth, the ver- 

 ruca? being either level with the surface or depressed below it ; 

 towards the middle of the length they gradually become projecting, 

 until they reach a height of about 1-25 millim. ; they are then 

 appressed against the surface of the cortex. A distinct median 

 groove is to bo traced along most of the stem. Studer has already 

 recorded it from Australia (north and north-west), 45-50 fms. 

 Hob. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. 



19. Juncella gemmacea. 



Verrucella gemmacea, M.-Edicards §• Ilaime, Hist. Cor. p. 185, 



pi. B 2. fig. 7. 

 Juncella gemmacea, Kolliker, Icon. Histiol. p. 141, woodcut 19, fig. 1. 

 ? Juncella flexilis, Studer, MB. Ak. Berlin, 1878, p. 059. 



The spicules of this species appear to be hardly distinguishable 

 from those of J. juncea, Pallas, judging by a comparison of those 

 obtained from the present Australian specimen with those figured 

 by Kolliker {I. c). The present collection contains (partly dry, 

 partly in spirit) five specimens, besides fragments ; they exhibit 

 precisely the range of variation in colour which is described by 

 Studer (MB. Ak. Berlin, 1878, p. 659) in his specimens from 80 

 fms. off j^orth-west Australia. They are mostly flexible and some- 

 what slender as compared with M.-Edwards and Haime's figure, 

 for the maximum diameter of the stem in most is not more than 

 (including the verrucas) 2-5 millim., only in one case attaining 

 3 millim. 



Hab. Percy Island, 0-5 fms. ; Port Molle, 12-20 fms. and 

 between tide-marks ; Port Denison, 4 fms. ; Pitzroy Island, 11 fms. 

 (all in Queensland). 



Obs. The absence of this wide-ranging species from the Torres 

 Straits captures seems to be accidental. Studer's species, J. flexilis, 

 seems hardly distinct from it. 



20. Juncella elongata, var. 



Gorgonia elongata, Pallas, Elcnch. Zooph. p. 179. 

 Juncella elongata, Kolliker, Icon. Histiol. p. 138. 



A spirit-specimen measuring 125 millim. (5 inches) in height and 

 90 millim. (3| inches) in extreme present diameter; it differs from 

 the typical form of this species mainly in its slender habit, indistinct 

 indication of posterior baro space and depressed line, and pale 

 pinkish-yellow colour. The spicules agree perfectly with those of 

 the species. The branching is dichotomous. The largest perfect 

 terminal branch measures (33 millim. in length ; some other very 

 short ones appear to have been broken during life, the cortex 



