Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 83 



We would, therefore, in view of these considerations, put forward llie 

 following emended classification, and proceed to define the various genera in 

 terms of such characters as seem to warrant attention. 



Family GOEGONELLIDAE.. 



JUNCELLID GkOUP. 



Division 1. Spicules include cluhs (Juncella). 

 Division 2. Spicules do not include cluhs — 



A. Spicules include lon<i warty spindles and umall double-clubs 



(Nicella). 



B. Spicules include double-clubs and elongated double-clubs 



(Scirpearia). 



VIII. — Emended Diagnoses of the Family and Genera. 

 Family GORGONELLIDAE. 



Specimens belonging to tlii.s family may be; either sim])l{! or branclied. 

 When simple, they frequently attain a length of three feet, though colonies 

 of five or six feet long are not uncommon. When branclit'd, the branching 

 may be (1) very sparse, (2) more frequent and dendriform, or (o) flabellate. 

 The branches are usually long and flagelliform. The coenenchyma is usually 

 thin, arenaceous on the surface, and very granular througliout; it is densely 

 packed with small spicules, and is separated into an outer non-canal-bearing 

 part and an inner canal-bearing part. 



The canal system consists of two longitudinal .series, situated circum- 

 ferentially ; the inner series separates the coenenchyma from the a.xis, and 

 the outer separates the two parts of the coenenchyma mentioned above. 

 Between these two series, solenia ramify in all directions and unite them. 

 The canals of the outer series are all equal in size ; but in the inner series 

 there is a certain number, definite for the specimens, larger than the others. 

 These are known as the main longitudinal canals. The most frequent number 

 is tvjo, but three and /oi/r also occur. 



The polyps are disposed in a certain number of longitudinal series, wliicli 

 are defined by and correspond to the number of main longitudinal canals ; 

 these are separated by longitudinal liare tracts, which occupy the region of 

 the main canals. The verrucae vary greatly in shape, not only in different 

 specimens, but in different parts of the same colony. They may project 

 considerably or may be depressed Iselow the surface of tlie coenenchyma. in 

 each series there may be one or more longitudinal rows; but tlif nuniber is 



F 



