Simpson—^ Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 49 



remarked that the spicules are almost indistinguishable In mi those of 

 J. jioncea, while at the same time he expressed the ojiinion that ./. flcrilvi 

 Studer might not be a distinct species. The position of this species has 

 already been discussed. 



It would be useless to go in detail into all the records of tliis species; 

 and in fact, it is very difficult to say whether the records of J. juncea and 

 J. gcmnuwea are all correct in identification, as several authors do not mention 

 whether their colonies were simple or branched. Another complication, 

 however, creeps in. When fragments of colonies were examined, is it not 

 possible that a branch of ./. r/i'inmacea might be referred to .7. jiincca, 

 especially when we remember that the question of Inanching is the chief 

 distinction between the two species ? 



Before going on to discuss the various characters of this species in detail, 

 I would give the following quotation, as it is not only of great interest, but 

 has apparently been overlooked by several authors in then- identification of 

 this species. 



Ridley (1884) referred a colony from the X.-E. coast of Australia to 

 the species dongata ; but in 1887 (xxxii., p. 241) ho replaced it in the species 

 gemmacca, noting that he had overlooked the fact that J. dongata had no 

 " clubs." He says : — " It will be seen that we probably liave a very variable 

 species before us, colour, form, and size being alike not to be depended on liy 

 themselves. The spiculation is fairly constant, but differs so little from 

 that of the allied forms {J.jimcdla and fmgilis) as to be scarcely a sufficient 

 guide per sc to the recognition of the species." 



From the fact that the specimen referred to was dichotomovisly branched, 

 I feel justified in recognizing it as J. gemmacca. An interesting feature 

 about this specimen is the fact that when found it had been broken oil' at the 

 base, and the broken part had been overgrown with coenencliynia, so that it 

 had been living free in the water. An analogous state was observed in the 

 case of a specimen of Ids hippuru Linn, in the Littoral Collection from the 

 Indian Ocean. 



In the Mergui Collection tlierc is a large numljer of specimens of t!iis 

 species, and these are augmented by several from the Indian Ocean Collection 

 from the Indian Museum, Calcutta. By means of these it has been possible 

 to study and compare several characters which arc very variable in a 

 manner which would have been impossible with only a single or even a few 

 specimens. 



Brnnehing. — The niode of brandling is of tlie nature of a false dichotomy. 

 The large main branches of the colony arc again branched almost in one 

 plane, but the general appearance of the colony is bushy. 



II 



