1 88 TOILERS IN THE SEA. 



acceptance of the form of the spicules as of higher 

 importance, even in the determination of genera. In 

 this view, also, Mr. W. Saville Kent concurred to the 

 extent even of going further than Kolliker had done, 

 for he says : " The facts which have been eliminated 

 will, I think, suffice to demonstrate beyond doubt 

 what a highly important element the calcareous spi- 

 cules represent in our appreciation of the generic 

 characters of the Gorgonidcz (sea-fans). The study of 

 the group from this point of view must, however, be 

 considered quite in its infancy ; but the time has 

 arrived when zoologists must no longer be content 

 with the characters afforded by general contour, or by 

 the examination of the dried polyparies only." ] 



The five types of spicules enumerated by M.Valen- 

 ciennes have not been deemed sufficient by succeed- 

 ing observers, who have come to the conclusion that 

 the material at his disposal was insufficient, and that 

 more definite and typical forms of spicuie have 

 since been met with, with which he was unacquainted, 

 hence that the number of leading forms must be in- 

 creased, and hereafter probably will be increased, to 

 an extent almost equal to the number of genera based 

 upon them. 



1 " On the Calcareous Spiculas of the Gorgonaceae," by 

 W. S. Kent, in Transactions Royal Microscopical Society, 

 Feb., 1870. 



