Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidae. 83 



would seem to be distinguished by the large size of tlie cup-bearing papillae ; 

 from J. elongafa, a Mediterranean species, by its being simple, not branched." 

 The original description of the species is as follows : — 



" Simple, elongated, slender, flexible, slightly twisted on its own axis, and 

 tapering upwards. Bark calcareous, white, smooth, and impuncturate, 

 enveloping a hard, grey axis, which has a somewhat polished surface, marked 

 with straight striae. The axis is highly charged with carbonate of lime. 

 The coral is, quadrangular in section, and has on each of the two narrower 

 sides two series of closely set papillae, having the eight-lobed orilices of polyp 

 cells at their apices. These papillae are obpyriform or ovate ; and in dried 

 specimens they are turned upwards and adpressed to the stem. Near the 

 base of laige specimens the papillae are in three somewhat irregular rows- 

 The other two sides of the stem are free from papillae; but there is a slightly 

 elevated line along the middle. The base spreads out to a moderate extent 

 upon the object to whicli it is attached. The spicula of which the liark is 

 composed are tul^erculated staves, two or tliree times as long as broad, the 

 tubercles having a tendency to collect at the extremities. 



" The longest example of this coral wlueh 1 have seen measured about 

 7 feet in length; and it was without its basal portion. The greatest thickness 

 was three-eighths of an inch ; the largest papillae were the tentli of an inch 

 in length, and about tlie same across. In another example, 5 feet in leugtli, 

 the base spread out to the size of a shilling ; and the papillae commenced 

 about 3 inches above this basal expansion. The smallest specimen that has 

 occurred was 31 inches long; this is in the British Mu.seum. In the collection 

 of that establishnaent there is a large stone, with numerous specimens of this 

 coral' upoii it, alongside examples of Caligorgia verticillai-is Gray {Primnoa 

 verticillaris Milne-Edwards). These were brouglit from St. Michael's, one of 

 the Azores, and presented to the Museum by Mr. McAndrew." 



Studer (xxxviii.) adds the following note with regard to the " Monaco " 

 specimens : — 



The colonies are long and flexible, and attain a length of 650 mm. The 

 polyps are club-shaped, slightly inturiied towards the axis; they are 

 arranged on two sides of the stem ; in the lower part in several rows ; but 

 towards the tip in a single row, alternating on the two sides. The spicules 

 are spindles and double-clubs. Their dimensions are 0'0C7 ^ 0-015 mm.; 

 (10(31 X 0-0154; 0-056 x 0015; 0-067 x 0-025. 



The colour varies from whitish yellow to red. 



• It is, of course, doublfiil whether thise me rcdUy 7. c/oHjo/d, os it wouUl bo imposfiWe todtrific 

 their specific or even generic position by a supcrticiul exumination. 



M2 



