473 
ren ook met subtile punten uitsteekende, digt boven malkander, en 
overdwars aan den worm doch zoodanig dat men met eenen vinger door 
tusschen kan komen”. 
Now, in none of the species of Virgularia, can the leaf he described 
as like the “single” comb of a malayan cock, but the leaves of Pteroeides 
can fairly be described as like thin cocks combs with a number of rays 
(straalen), spread out like fish fins, ending in sharp (subtile) projecting 
points. 
Moreover it would be very inaccurate to say that in any Vergularia 
it is possible to place a finger between the leaves, whereas in some 
species of Pferoeides this might be done. 
The colour of this “2° Soorte” is described as pale blue and gray 
not flesh coloured as in the 1° soorte and this description is quite con- 
sistent with its being a Pferoeides and not a Virgularia. 
Rumphius also remarks that when the 2° soorte is imprudently 
grasped with the hand it causes a painful itching followed by blistering 
of the skin and that it is phosphorescent, whilst he says he did not ob- 
serve either the stinging sensation or the phosphorescence in any 
specimen of the 1° soorte. 
We know that the mediterranean species of Pteroeides is phosphores- 
cent, in fact it was called Penna marina phosphorica by Seba on that 
account, but it is curious that there is no statement that any species of 
Virgularia is phosphorescent. 
In the summer of last year I wrote to Professor Herdman who 
was dredging off the coast of Scotland and asked him to observe the 
phosphorescence of the Pennatulids he collected and the following 
extract from his letter in reply is of interest in this connexion. “The 
Virgularia gave no sign of phosphorescence at all — to my surprise — 
while the young Funiculinas dredged along with it were glowing bril- 
liantly.” It would be interesting to find out whether other species of 
the genus Virgularia show a similar lack of phosphorescent power. 
Professor Herdman also informs me that Virgularıa mirabilis 
does not sting the hand, but there is also no evidence that I can find 
that Pieroeides does sting. The sharp projecting points of the rays of 
Pteroeides suggest that it may have some stinging powers and I should 
be glad to know if any one has been stung by a species of this genus. 
The statement made by Rumphius then that his Sagztia marina 
nigra stings and is phosphorescent supports the view that it is not a V2r- 
gularia. The only difficulty that I have found in identifying this sea-pen 
of Rumphius as a species of Pteroeides is the statement that it is 2 to 
21/, feet in length. Very few specimens of this genus are more than 
300 mm in length and a specimen 700 mm would be a giant of its race. 
