Knoicledge of the Alcyonaria. 



191 



irregular thin base of parchment-like substance, covering a 

 bivalve shell &c. 



Its peripheral portions strongly resemble the type specimen 

 of V. {BrandellcC) intricata, Gray, in general appearance, but 

 ditfer in the rarity with which anastomosis occurs in this part 

 of the corallura and in the br(_)ader shape of the meshes of the 

 reticulation. It differs in spiculation from that species chiefly 

 in not possessing the flattened tubcrculate disks of the cortex ; 

 it differs from V. {Paramuricea) intermedia in the inferior pro- 

 portions of its spicnles, and from V. [Plexaura) torta in the 

 much larger size of these parts, and in the more pointed and 

 less strongly tuberculate character of the fusiform spicules. 

 As stated above, the species falls into the Paramuricea section 

 of the genus Villogorgia. 



It is not impossible that specimens of this species may have 

 been included by Studer (MB. Ak. Berlin, 1878, p. 653) 

 under Paravmricea cancellata^ Verrill, as he describes speci- 

 mens from the Indian Ocean having a well-marked lateral 

 compression of the branches. 



The known species of the subgenus may be thus tabulated : — 



Menacella, Gray. 

 Menacella reticularis^ Gray. 



This, the type species of the genus Menacella, founded by 

 Dr. Gray in 1870 (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. v. 

 p. 406), is nominally based on Gorgonia reticulum {not reticu- 

 laris, as erroneously printed) , Pallas. It strongly resembles 

 species of Villogorgia in external characters — that is to say, 

 the type specimen, as labelled by Dr. Gray, in the British 

 Museum ; but it is necessary to point out that this is not in 

 reality referable to Pallas's species, which is described by 

 that author as red in colour or " pallida," and as " inter 



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