ALCTONAKIA. 349 



spicules agree with those of specimens already in the National 

 collection. 



Hab. Warrior Reef, Torres Straits, 12 fms. : off Xorth -west Cape, 

 W. Australia, 3-4 fins. (Studer). 



The known distribution is: — Indian Ocean {Pallas), Seas of the 

 Moluccas {Lamarck), India and China {Gray), Cuba {Mus. Brit., 

 coll. H. Christy). 



The occurrence of this species off Cuba is a remarkable case of 

 distribution, but must be taken to be correct, as I can, after 

 careful examination, find no grounds for separating the specimen 

 from the above and other undoubted specimens of pectinata. Indeed 

 it agrees with the Torres-Straits specimen more closely tban 

 with other, probably Indian Ocean, examples ; the verruca-spicules, 

 which are neither figured nor fully described by Kolliker (' Icones 

 Histiologies '), show a modification of the same type as those of 

 the general cortex, being only more elongated tban those, and 

 bearing two and sometimes three distinct whorls of tubercles, besides 

 a few median terminal ones on each half of the spicule; the two 

 inner whorls almost meet in the middle, so as to obliterate the median 

 bare zone which is characteristic of the cortical spicules. 



SCLEEOGOEGIACEJE. 



SUBEROGORGIA. 



Suberogorgia, Gray, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 159. 



Pterogorgia (pars), Dana, Zooph. p. 647 ; M.-JSdwards § Haime, 



Hist. Cor. p. 167 (4857). 

 Sclerogorgia, Kolliker, Icon. Histiol. ii. Abth. pp. 142, 144 (1865). 



24. Suberogorgia suberosa. 



Gorgonia suberosa, Pal/ax, Elench. Zooph. p. 191 ; Esper, Pflanzenth. 

 Fortsetz. i. p. 170, pi. xlix. 



One magnificent specimen, attaining a height of 87*5 centim. (35 

 inches) and a maximum lateral expansion of 50 centim. (20 inches), 

 also several smaller ones, all dry, and two small examples in spirit. 

 Pallas says that it often reaches the height of 3 feet. 



Studer records it from the north-west coast of Australia at 50 

 fms. It appears not to have been recorded until now from Torres 

 Straits or any locality in the Pacific Ocean. 



Hab. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. ; Alert Island and "West 

 Island, Torres Straits, 7 fms. 



BPJAREID.E. 



25. Briareum, ?sp. 



A crumbling spirit-specimen of what is, perhaps, a species of this 



