STUDER (1878) accepts the genus as originally denned by VALENCIENNES, and in 1887 

 he formally defined the genus as follows : 



"Gorgonella Milne Edwards et Haime. Colonie mannigfach in einer Ebene verzweigt, 

 oft durch Anastomosen der Zweige ein Xetzwerk bildend. Kelche niedrig warzenformig an zwei 

 Seiten der Aste angeordnet. Achse lamellbs, radienstreifig. Im Coenenchym warzige Doppelkuo- e ln 

 und Doppelspindeln". 



WRIGHT and STUDER (1889) define the genus practically as just quoted. HICKSON (1905) 

 points out the difficulty in distinguishing between Gorgonella and Verrucella. 



The definition adopted for the present work will be as follows : 



Colony flabellate, often reticulate; calyces low dome-shaped, or low truncated cones; 

 calyces on two or three sides of the branches, usually the former except on ultimate branches ; 

 coenenchyma thin ; axis solidly calcareous, without horny lamellae ; spicules double heads, girdled 

 spindles and true spindles. 



The type species of this genus is Gorgonella sarmentosa (Lamarck). Other known species 

 are Gorgonella bianci Koch, G. distans Studer, G. granulata Esper, G. miniacea W. and S., 

 G. orientalis W. and S., G. stricta (Lamk.), G. sarmentosa (Lamk.), G. umbella (Esper), 

 G. umbraculuvi (Ellis and Solander), G. verriculate Milne Edw. and Haime, and the new 

 species of the Siboga collection. 



The writer believes that Nicella reticulata and N. pustulosa of THOMSON and SIMPSON 

 (Alcyonarians of the Indian Ocean, Vol. 2, 1909, pp. 266, 267) should be included in the 

 Genus Gorgonella. Their spicules are typical of that genus rather than of Nicella. 



i . Gorgonella orientalis Wright and Studer. 



Gorgonella orientalis Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 161. 



Stat. 274. 528'.2S., I3453'.9E. 57 meters. 



Stat. 305. Mid channel in Solor Strait off Kampong Menanga. 113 meters. 



Stat. 306. 827'S., 1 22 54'. 5 E. 247 meters. 



Stat. 310. 83o'S., ii97'.5E. 73 meters. 



Colony (fragmentary) flabellate and reticulate in form. The specimen described is the 

 terminal part of a branch of a colony that was probably much larger. Height 6.1 cm., diameter 

 5.6 cm. The central branch is connected by numerous anastomoses with two others, one on 

 each side. The diameter of the largest branch is 2.5 mm. This forks 4 mm. above its proximal 

 end and each of the resulting branches gives off several lateral branchlets that anastomose 

 freely with branchlets from other branches. Ultimate branchlets from 1.5 mm. to 9 mm. apart. 

 The calyses are distributed on three sides of the branches, are thickly emplanted, and have a 

 tendency to a lateral arrangement. There is no evident longitudinal furrow or ridge on the 

 branches. 



The individual calyces are rather low, dome-shaped verrucse with evenly rounded summits 

 and with their walls often contiguous. Their distal ends show a faintly indicated rosette or 

 star-shaped pattern, not nearly so evident as in Verrucella. A typical calyx measures .9 mm. 

 in height and has a diameter of 1.8 mm. The walls are remarkably thick and tough, consisting 



