Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 9 



Ellisella. — Coral simple or fiircately branched; branches subcylindrical, 

 with a more or less distinct lateral groove, especially at the base. Axis 

 continuous, opaque, solid, calcareous, hard at the base and softer above. Bark 

 when dry, granular, thin, with numerous series of simken or slightly 

 prominent polypiferous cells on each edge of the stem and branches. 



(1) E. jmicea, coral simple, sub-compressed beneath ; Juncella Val. 



(2) E. elongata, coral furcately branclied, branches sub-cylindrical. 



(3) E. coccinea, fiu'cately branched, branches sub-cylindrical, very long, 

 virgate. 



(4) E. pectinata, coral branched fan-like, branches with a series of virgate 

 branches on the upper side only. (Ctenocella.) 



He also revived the genus Scirpearia in the following terms : — Coral slender 

 (simple or sub-simple), rod-like. Axis slender, cylindrical, hair-like, solid 

 white, calcareous, attached by a broad base. Bark (when dry) thin, smooth, 

 granular, with a series of sub-cylindrical polypiferous cells placed alternately 

 on each side of the stem. 



S. miraMlis.— Two years later (P. Z. S., 1859, pp. 479-486) he established 

 the family Elliselladae, and gave the following diagnosis : — " The axis solid, 

 calcareous, not jointed. Bark granular, cells on the sides of the stem and 

 branches separated by a lateral groove." («) Cell more or less elongate. 



(1) Ellisella. 



Coral tree-like, sub-cylindrical ; branches free ; cells numerous, small, 

 crowded. E. juncca, E. elongata, E. coccinea, E. pcctino.ta. 



(2) SCIKPEARIA. 



Coral simple or forked ; cells sub-cylindrical in two alternate series. 



S. mirahilis, coral simple. 



S. dichofoma, coral branched, forked. 



From this resunn^ it will be seen that, up to tliis time, identification was 

 based on external cliaracters alone; but in 1864 a great advance was made 

 when Kolliker investigated the spicules, and defined Juncella as liaving 

 " clubs, double-clubs, and double-stars. The spicules of the polyps are 

 small spindles." He recognized the following three species : — 



(rt) With clubs : Juncella juncca, J. gcmmacea. 

 (b) Without clubs : J. elongata. 



Gray, however, seems to have been unacquainted with Kolliker's contri- 

 bution, for in 1870 (Cat. Lith., B. M.), he, without taking into account the 

 nature of the spiculation, overturned his previous classification; and in the 



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