24 



The original definition of this genus is as follows : 



"Colony simple or very feebly branched. Axis calcareous, brittle, smooth or symmetrically 

 grooved on the surface. Polyps arranged in spirals or sometimes in rows on the stem ; tentacles 

 and upper portion of the polyps retractile within prominent verrucae. Ccenenchyma moderately 

 thick, with spiny spindles and double clubs forming a roughened outer layer". 



The mode of branching does not seem to be a good generic character in this group, 

 and is not available for this genus. The spicules, according to the figures given by WRIGHT 

 and STUDER (Plate XXXIV, figs. 5, 6. 7 and 8) are seldom true double clubs. This is also 

 true of the species in the Siboga collection. The forms called "double clubs" by WRIGHT 

 and STUDER would be called double heads by the present writer who would define the genus 

 as follows : 



Gorgonellidae which are variously branched, but in no known case reticulate. Calyces 

 arranged in spirals or oblique rows in adult colonies, but opposite in young colonies, low ver- 

 rucae or domes capable of retracting with the polyps. Spicules mostly double heads and girdled 

 spindles, but simple spindles and a few clubs are also found. 



The type of this species is Scirpearella profitnda Wright and Studer. Other known 

 species are Scirpearella aurantiaca Thomson and Henderson, 5. divisa Thomson and Hen- 

 derson, S. gracilis Wright and Studer, 5. indica Hickson, S. monilifdrmis Weight and Studer, 

 S. rubra Wright and Studer, S. (Scirpearea) fzircata (Hickson) and the new species des- 

 cribed beyond. 



i. Scirpearella rubra Wright and Studer (Plate VI, figs, i 5). 



Scirpearella rubra Wright and Studer. Challenger Reports, the Alcyonaria, 1889, p. 157. 



Stat. 60. Haingsisi, Samau Island near Timor. 23 meters. 



Stat. 80. 225'S., 1 17 43' E. 5040 meters. 



Stat. 91. Muaras Reef, inner side, East coast of Borneo. Up to 54 meters. 



Stat. 133. Anchorage off Lirung, Salibabu Island. Up to 36 meters. 



Stat. 164. i42'.5S., I3047'.5 E. 32 meters. 



Stat. 204. 42o'S., i22s8'E. From 75 to 94 meters. 



Stat. 240. Banda Anchorage. 9 45 meters. 



Stat. 258. Tual Anchorage, Kei Islands. 22 meters. 



Stat. 260. s36'.5S., i325s'.2E. 90 meters. 



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



Stat. 310. 83o'S., ii97'.sE. 73 meters. 



Colony an unbranched stem (incomplete) 125 cm. long. Diameter near proximal end 

 6 mm., near distal end 4 mm., near middle 7 mm. The calyces are arranged in more or less 

 regular spirals around all sides of the stem, there being usually from seven to ten calyces in 

 a spiral, a little more than 2 mm. apart on the average. Proximally they are much more 

 distant, distally somewhat more closely approximated. Near the distal end one side of the 

 colony shows a rather broad bare band, but this is not evident on most of the stem. On the 

 proximal part there is a tendency to show two such bands, frequently invaded however, on 

 opposite sides of the colony. 



