48 PROF. F. J. BELL ON NEW OR [Feb. 5, 



in the latter ihe " 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 33 cm. 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 1.5 cm. 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 III. 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 "Plexaurella, n. s." 



4. Plexaurella angtjiculoides. (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 much greater stoutness of 

 the branches, for Dana especially notes that his species is distinguished 

 by the delicacy of its branches. 



