48 PROF. F. J. BELL ON NEW OR [Feb. 5, 
in the latter the ‘“ Blattkeule” is of a simple character, and the 
four-rayed spicule is more ornate and more abundant than in the 
new species. 
Hab. Ebon (or Baring) Island, North Pacific ; in Coll. B. M. 
This magnificent Plexaurid was presented by Captain Lewis J. 
Moore ; it was “given,” he says, ‘“‘ by a head chief to Mr. Capella, 
and he gave it to me.” 
2. PLEXAURA SUFFRUTICOSA. (Plate III. fig. 2.) 
Plexaura suffruticosa, Dana, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Corall. i. 
p- 154. 
The British Museum possesses a good example of this species, 
which was obtained at Billiton. It is very bushy, 80 cm. high, with 
a greatest spread of 33cm. The cortex, the spicules of which are 
now figured, is pretty thick; the axis is black. The distribution of 
the calyces is somewhat irregular. The nodosities are numerous 
and prominent. 
The description of Milne-Edwards and Haime is an excellent 
example of a brief diagnosis which renders the determination of a 
species very much easier than the long descriptions with which it is 
often one’s misfortune to meet. 
3. PLEXAURELLA AFFINIS, sp. nov. (Plate III. fig. 3.) 
A large species of tall habit, allied to P. dichotoma and P. vermi- 
culata, but with about twice as many branches, which are more 
slender, and with more delicate spicules. 
The specimen under description is about 76 cm. high, the main 
trunk is 15 em. long, and about 1 cm. in diameter; it is flattened 
at the point of origin of the branches ; of these one which does not 
again divide is about 42 cm. long; the next branch divides at some 
little distance from its point of origin, and one of the resulting branches 
again divides twice. The remaining branch, which divides much 
nearer its point of origin gives rise to two branches, each of which 
divides three times. The cortex is rather thick, and there are a 
few nodosities on it; it is of a whitey-brown colonr, The calices 
are scattered, not closely packed, and often of an elongate oval form, 
and they may be more than 2 mm. long. The axis is of a brownish 
colour. The spicules are very fine and large; their characteristic 
forms are shown in Plate ITI. fig. 3. 
Hab. West Indies. 
The specimen has been for a long time in the British Museum, 
and bears, in Dr. Gray’s handwriting, the label ‘‘ Plewaurella, n.s.” 
4, PLEXAURELLA ANGUICULOIDES. (Plate III. fig. 4.) 
Plexaura anguiculoides, Gray, MSS. 
This species is, no doubt, closely allied to P. anguiculus (Dana), 
but I think Dr. Gray was quite justified in regarding it as distinct ; 
the grounds of separation I take to be the mucb greater stoutness of 
the branches, for Dana especially notes that his species is distinguished 
by the delicacy of its branches. 
