426 MK. J. J. SIMPSON ON THE 



polyps with eight claws. In length they vary from 5 inches to 

 1 or 2 feet or more. In some the stony joints are longer and 

 the black horny joints very short ; in others the black horny 

 joints are longer but always more contracted. The coral spreads 

 its base on rocks by various turnings and windings both of its 

 bony and fleshy part, and likewise as it rises we find it enclosing 

 shells and other extraneous substances, that stick to it, like the 

 G-orgonias." To Ellis & Solander we are also indebted for the 

 only figures of this species showing the coenenchyma. These are 

 reproduced by Esper and supplemented by fine figures of the 

 skeleton. 



In 1821 Laraouroux specifies it as follows : — " Branched, 

 branches few in number ; cortex thick ; polyps not having 

 protruding verrucse ; axis articulated, nodes calcareous, with 

 irregular longitudinal striations, internodes horny." 



The new edition of Lamarck, in 1836, practically adds nothing 

 to the description, but emphasises Ellis & Solander's points 

 thus : — " Cortex thick, non-prominent verrucas, polyps with 

 eight tentacles (claws)." Ten years later Dana referred to this 

 species several specimens from the East Indies, but does not in 

 any way give more precision to this little-kiiovvn group. 



The next and last reference to newly-collected and authentic 

 specimens is made by Milne-Edwards & Haime, wlio, iu 1857, 

 thus defined the species from specimens collected at Amboina: — 

 " Colony large and branched, branches elongated, almost straiglit; 

 calcareous nodes subcylindrical, elongated, two or three times 

 longer than broad, with siuuous striations; internodes very 

 short and horny." In 18G5, however, Kdlliker, in revising the 

 Alcyonaria in his ' Icones Histiologicse,' makes reference to 

 the spicules of this species. He says they consist of (1) spindles 

 beset with spiny warts, of which there may be six, eight, or twelve 

 on each ; (2) simple clubs, probably representing the cortical 

 laver, with the warts on one side longer than those on the other. 

 The size of the largest spicule is 0*18 millim. In the ' Challenger' 

 Eeport, vol. xxxi., Wright & Studer, having found no specimens 

 of this species in the collection made during tliat voyage, to make 

 their classification complete give the following diagnosis, which 

 is the last systematic reference to the genus: — "Colonies 

 branched, with thick coenenchyma, within which the polyps can 

 be wholly withdrawn. The spicules are radiately stellate and 

 covered with rough warts, of which there may be six, eight, or 

 twelve on each. Some simple club-like forms also occur," 



