Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 11 



In 1878, Stucler still further advanced Kolliker's contribution, and noted 

 that when one investigated the spicules of the various species in the family, 

 one found two definite groups : — 



(1) Those with an outer layer of cliibs and an inner layer of double-clubs ; 



and 



(2) Those with only double-dubs and spindles. 



The latter group he again sub-divided on the basis of the nature of the 

 verrucae. .His classification would appear thus : — 



(1) Spicules, clubs, and double-clubs, Juncella. 



(2) Spicules, double-clubs, and spindles — 



A. Calyces not prominent, Ellisella. 



B. Calyces markedly projecting, Scirpearia. 



Juncella. — Colony simple or forked ; verrucae club-shaped, prominent or 

 otherwise. In the eoenenchyma, an outer layer of clubs and an inner layer 

 of double-clubs. J. juncea, J. gemmacea, J. fle;ciUs nov. 



Ellisella. — Colony simple or forked. Verrucae hardly projecting, in 

 two rows on the sides of the stem and branches. In the eoenenchyma only 

 double-clubs and spindles. E. maadata nov., E. calamns nov. 



SciRPEAiilA (including Nicella, IJaynerella, and Yiminella). — Colony simple 

 or branched. Axis cylindrical, calcareous, and horny. Coeneuchynia thin, 

 with prominent polyps, which are disposed in two rows on the sides of the 

 stem and branches. Spicules, double-clubs, and spindles. 5. mirahilis, 

 S. flagellum (= J. cxlaiis and V. flagellum). 



Note. — Studer includes in Scirpearia Nicella maurUiana, and says that 

 the only type of spicule in this species is " spindles thickly covered with 

 warts." Eidley, however, doubts whether the specimen examined by Studer 

 was really N. mauritiana. This is extremely probable in view of the fact 

 that N. diekotonm (which is a synonym of N. mauriliana) contains both 

 double clubs and spindles. (See subsequent discussion of this species.) 



Wright and Studer (L.) united all these genera under the family Goi-go- 



nellidae, which they placed in the Holaxonia, near the Gorgonidae and 



Plexauridae. At the same time, they, while recognizing Juncella, Nicella, 



Ctenocella, Scii^pearia, and Ellisella, established a new genus under tlie name 



of Scirpearella, which they defined thus : — " Colony simple or very feebly 



branched. Axis calcareous, brittle, smooth, or grooved. Polyps arranged in 



rows or spirals, retractile, with more or less prominent verrucae. The 



eoenenchyma is moderately thick and finely granular. The spicules are 



spiny spindles and double-clubs." 



02 



