POLYPS AND CORALS. 77 



two groups ill oue family. Tiie Plexauridce would then 

 include only Plexaura, Eunicea, Plexaurella, and allied 

 forms. 



MuRiCEA FLEXUOSA Veri'iU, Amer. Jour. Science, Vol. 

 45, p. 412, May, 1868, = Lissogorgia flexuosa V. (Vol. 

 IV, p. 187). 



The genus, Z/issogo7'giaY., hased upon the Gorgonia 

 cancellata Dana, seems unnecessary, shice the typical 

 species proves to belong to ParamuricecL KoUiker, a genus 

 established at nearly the same time and based upon more 

 important characters. Villogo7X/ia and Blepharogorgia 

 (jjcirs) Duch. and Mich, appear to be other synonyms, 

 but the typical species of the latter may, perhaps, form 

 a distinct genus. (See American Jour. Science, Vol. 45, 

 p. 413 and Vol. 46, p. 143.) 



In this Family the forms and structure of the spicula 

 appear to be the safest guides to the true affinities of the 

 species. In the recent very valuable and important work* 

 of Dr. Albert Kolliker, the spicula of most of the genera 

 are beautifully illustrated. 



AsTROGORGiA Verrill. 



American Journal of Science, Vol. XLV, May, 1868, p. 414. 



Coenenchyma and surface of verruca granulous and 

 composed of rather small spindles, closely united to- 

 gether, with some irregular, small, rough double-heads 

 and clubs. Verrucee prominent, eight-rayed in contrac- 

 tion, the spicula being arranged in eight groups. Tenta- 

 cles often not wholly retracted, their bases strengthened 

 by eight groups of conspicuous, fusiform spicula, similar 

 to those of the coenenchyma, arranged in V-shaped lines. 

 When the tentacles are nearly withdrawn the basal spic- 

 ula form a stellate figure at the mouth of the cell. 



AsTROGORGiA SINENSIS Verrill, op. cit., p. 412, = Mu- 

 rlcea Sinensis V. (Vol. IV, p. 187, Plate ^, figure 5, 5a.) 



The verrucse in this species form broad, low, rounded 

 cones, or are nearly hemispherical. The spicula in the 



* Icones Histiologicse, zweite Abtheilung, Leipzig, 1805. 



