Alcyonaria G 33 



The type of E. glomerata is in my private collection, and is now before me. 

 It agrees closely with the form named Nephthya flavescens by Danielssen (op. 

 cit., PL XI, figs. 1-58) where it is very fully illustrated, with many of its spicules, 

 which are practically identical with corresponding spicules of the type. The 

 tentacles are figured as heavily loaded with small warted spindles, etc. A 

 much enlarged contracted polyp is represented as incurved, with the inner 

 side smaller and without spicules. It is viviparous, and the figured planulse 

 are already filled with small spicules. (See PL XIV, figs. 4, 5, and text-cut). 



My type specimen also contains eggs and planulse, as do all other specimens 

 that I have examined. 



The Nephthya rosea Dan. (op. cit., PL XI, figs. 1-72), is united to flavescens 

 by Molander, and both are placed under glomerata by Jungersen. As figured 

 the branches are longer, less crowded, and the polyps are more slender and 

 longer, which might be due to less contraction. But the larger club-shaped 

 spicules figured have the lacerate processes of the larger end elongated and 

 slender, without foliations, and most of the larger warted spicules are stouter 

 and thicker than in the type of glomerata. Its planulse are also spiculose. 

 N. polaris Dan. (op. cit., PL XIII, figs. 2-45) seems to be a younger and more 

 strongly contracted form of Molander's glomerala, with the same kinds of short 

 thick clubs. It may be a distinct species. 



Gersemiopsis arctica Dan. (op. cit., PL XIV, figs. 1-49: and PL XV) seems 

 to differ some from our type as to its spicules, but the general figures show 

 specimens less contracted than usual, and consequently with more elongated 

 polyps, some of them expanded. Clubs have short slender branched foliations. 



Drifa hyalina Dan. (op. cit., PL VII, figs. 1-44). The general figure shows 

 a large example more openly branched than usual, and with elongated polyps, 

 some incurved. Its club-shaped spicules are, in general, smaller and more 

 slender, with the lacerate processes somewhat smaller than in the type of 

 glomerata but otherwise similar. Spindles are more slender. 



D. islandica Dan. (PL VI, figs. 30-71) is openly branched, with polyps 

 elongated as in the last, but the larger club-shaped spicules figured are larger 

 and coarser, stout, and often more rudely foliated, than in typical glomerata. 



Of all these forms E. rosea and E. islandica seem to me to differ the most 

 from the type. Kiikenthal has already recognized the latter as a distinct 

 form. Molander separated flavescens Dan. as a species, but that is apparently 

 identical with the type. He united hyalina and flavescens, but rosea is most 

 distinct in spiculation, and might be considered a variety worth recognizing 

 at least. Molander proposed (1915) a new species E. grcenlandica, distinguished 

 mainly on account of the presence in the polyps of elongated, slender, warted 

 spindles, longer than the clubs, and the latter -having narrow elevated processes 

 at the enlarged end, without foliations. It seems to be a fairly distinct form, 

 but might be considered a variety. 



The form called E. glomerata by Molander does not agree with the type. 

 He says of the larger polyp-spicules that they are "short clumsy clubs and 

 spindles, 0-2-0-38 mm. long, generally clubs, their thorns broad and low. " 

 A glance at the figures that I have given (PL V, figs. 2, 2a) will show that this 

 is not true of the type, for the major clubs are elongated with the smaller end 

 much tapered. In fact they are more like his figures of E. flavescens (p. 71) 

 than like those that he gives as of E. glomerata. His species agrees better as 

 to spicules with Drifa islandica, as figured by Danielssen (PL VI, op. cit.) but 

 the latter also has more tapered clubs. N. polaris is similar. 



My impression is that Jungersen has gone too far in uniting all the known 

 northern forms of this group (Drifa) under one species. Probably two or three 

 species should be recognized, each with subordinate varieties, all based mainly 

 on the spiculation. Many of these forms occur on the Banks, off Newfoundland; 

 but I am not in a position to express very decided opinions on any of them, 

 except my own types, because others are not now accessible, without too much 

 trouble and delay. 



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