Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 15 



In the Cape and Mergui Collections are a number of colonies : (1; creamy 

 white, (2) pale orange, (3) bright orange, (4) dull orange red, (5) brick-red, 

 (6) pale orange yellow, with reddish tips to the verrucae. 



Scirpearia Jlagelhini. 



Monaco specimens : Dull white, creamy-white, pale yellow, orange 

 yellow. 



Naples specimen : The general colour of the colony is reddish orange, but 

 the tips of the verrucae are distinctly more reddish. 



On the whole, the colour schemes of Juncellids are defined by the 

 coenenchyma proper and the verrucae, but in a few cases the colour of the 

 verrucae extends in streaks along the coenenchyma, and gives very pretty 

 tessellated patterns. Good examples of this are seen in some forms of 

 Scirpearia furcata {sens, emend.) (see fig. 77). 



(2) Canal Systems. 



This is a feature to which little or no attention has so far been paid, but 

 which is of great taxonomic importance, and which also exerts a great 

 influence on certain superficial appearances whicli have been used for 

 specific diagnosis. 



Description. — In all Juncellids it is essentially of the same type, and 

 consists of (1) an inner longitudinal series separating the inner canal-bearing 

 part of the coenenchyma from the axis, (2) an outer longitudinal series 

 separating the two divisions of the coenenchyma (see above), and (3) a 

 transverse series ramifying in all directions through the inner part of the 

 coenenchyma and uniting the two longitudinal series. 



This is common to all Juncellids (see figs. 10 and 13 of Juncella juncea, 

 fig. 19 of Juncella gemmacea, fig. 25 of J. trilincata, fig. 114 of Jtim:ella 

 qvAidrilineata, and fig. 43 of Sciipearia peclinata). 



As has been already remarked, the thickness of the coenenchyma is 

 almost a constant, and consequent upon this tlie thickness of the canal- 

 bearing parts separating these two series of canals is also a constant (see figs. 

 10, «, h, and c). 



With regard to the longitudinal series, it is essential to note that the 

 number varies in the different parts of the colony, or, in otlier words, diminishes 

 from the base upwards. 



We have made an extended study upon a large number of specimens, and 

 the following observations may prove useful : — 



1. The outer series of canals communicates directly with the polyps, and, 

 by means of the transverse canals, communicates with the inner series. 



