Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 47 



Spicules of J. juncea. 



The characteristic spicule is the simple club, which has been described 

 already. A few typical variations are also shown in fig. 14. These are also 

 double-stellate forms and double wheels or capstans. The following are 

 some of the measurements, length by breadth, in millimetres : — 



(1) Cluhs.—0-ll X 0-04; 0-1 x 0-0:55 ; 0-09 x 0-034; 0-085 x 0-032; 



0-08 X 0-03; 008 x 0-02. 



(2) Double Stars.— Q-Ol x 0-05; 0-09 x 0-045; 0-08 x 004; 0-08 x 0-03. 



DistrHution of J. juncea. 



(1) Australia. — Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fathoms (as J. juncea and 

 J. fragiUs) ; Dirk Hartog, W. Australia, 45 fathoms ; j\Iermaid Straits, N.W. 

 Australia, 50 fathoms; Torres Straits, 7-11 fathoms. 



(2) Oft Sombrero Island, West Indies (as J. harhadensis). 



(3) King Island Bay and elsewhere (Mergui). 



(4) Ceylon Seas (as J. juncea), Gulf of Manaar (as J. frai/ilis). 



(5) Bourbon, and between Flat Island and Mauritius (as J. Jiexilis). 

 (6j Ternate (as J. Jiexilis). 



■ (7) Maldives (as J. Jiexilis) . 

 (8) Off Table Island, Cocos Group, Auduinans, 15-35 fathoms. 



Specijic Diagnosis of J. juncea. 



Colony simple or sub-simple, elongate, sometimes filiform, sometimes very 

 thick : the coenenchyma varies greatly in thickness iu the different specimens, 

 but is constant in each ; this affects tiie external appearance of the colony. 

 The canal system is of the typical Gorgonellid structure, and there are two 

 main longitudinal canals. These; may or may not produce an external 

 impression ; in colonics with a thin coenenchyma their position is denoted 

 externally by two longitudinal bare tracts; but in those with a very thick 

 coenenchyma, no trace of this is to be seen. The polyps are distributed 

 differently in these two types ; iu the former they are disposed in two 

 longitudinal series, in which there is a varying number of rows, which 

 diminish from tlie base upwards; in the latter they are crowded all over the 

 coenenchyma. The verrucae vary greatly in shape in the difl'crent parts of 

 the colony ; near the base tl)cy are low and dome-like, or may even Ijo 

 depressed beneath the surface of tiic coenenchyma ; they gradually increase 

 in size until near the top they are usually sub-conical, directed upwards, and 

 adpressed to the coenenchyma. The axis is hard and dexiblo ; it is composed 



