230 MR. S, O. RIDLEY ON THE CORALLIID^. [Feb. 7, 



or writings, with Precious Coral appear to be always of this foreign 

 type, it seems certain that it is generally known in that country as 

 a foreign product. The pieces of coral which actually form part 

 of the ornaments, and which the men clasp or carry, is certainly 

 not the form under notice, but appears to be Gorallium nobile 

 in all cases ; it was of rather a pale colour in all the specimens 

 which I have seen. All these specimens are antecedent in date of 

 manufacture to the period at which the Japanese ports were opened 

 to European commerce. Prof. Moseley has drawings of quite a similar 

 character. Precious coral is widely used in the East for ornaments, 

 especially in China, where jMr. Franks informs me that an Empress's 

 necklace has been made of alternate pieces of jade and coral. In 

 this case it is probably all derived from the Mediterranean, as the 

 value placed upon it in the instance just mentioned is more than the 

 Chinese would have set upon a native production, or probably even 

 on one from Japan. Prof. Moseley says that the Japanese use 

 Corallium as an ornament and in "netsukis" abundantly, that he 

 imagined it came from the Mediterranean, but that several residents 

 have told him that it occurs native in Japan. None was found there 

 by the ' Challenger.' A friend of Prof. Moseley told him that he had 

 seen plenty of Red Coral which had been obtained at Japan, but 

 subsequently was doubtful that it might not have been a Bistichopora. 



After considering all the evidence, I have still doubts as to whether 

 the present specimens really are from Japan. It seems certain that 

 much Corallium nobile has been imported into that country, probably 

 by way of China. This is shown by Mr. Franks' s ornaments to 

 constitute at any rate the main origin of this substance for manufac- 

 turing-purposes in Japan. As the present species, from its hardness, 

 compact structure, and deep colour, is hardly less fitted for those 

 purposes than C. nobile if self, it would almost certainly have been 

 thus employed if it were generally known in the country. 



In regard to the relations of the form, it may be seen at once 

 to agree very closely with Plenrocorallium joknsoni (PI. IX. fig. 5) in 

 all essential characters, as the two forms of spicules, which are almost 

 exactly identical in the two species — the cyUndrical radiate of var. 

 elatior having, however, but 6 radii as a rule ; the axis, also, is 

 striated and party-coloured in the stem, instead of white and smooth ; 

 and the cortex, besides being thinner, is scarlet instead of cream- 

 coloured. However, it is undoubtedly a Pleurocorallium. Its rela- 

 tions to the original form of the species of which I have made it a 

 variety are less certain. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, we are 

 not acquainted with the characters of the spicules of Pleurocorallium 

 secundum. From its resemblance to the present species in the party- 

 coloured axis, pinnated branches, scarlet cortex with truncate Pleu- 

 rocorallian verrucse, it appears at any rate to be nearly related to it ; 

 but as the verrucse are said to be placed mainly on the pinnae and not, 

 as here, on the face of the branches, I think it may possibly be 

 distinct. In that case I should propose the name elatius for the 

 present form, on account of its more erect and ramose habit ; mean- 

 while it may stand as var. elatior. The pinnate arrangement of the 



