POLYPS AND CORALS. 79 



much more numerous, covering the whole surface, and 

 interlaced at all angles, leaving small, often nearly square 

 depressions between. Spicula white, mostly long, rather 

 slender, often curved spindles. The longer ones taper 

 gradually towards the ends, which are not very acute ; 

 they'are covered on all sides with closely crowded, rather 

 regular, conical warts. Some of the smaller spindles 

 have the warts less crowded and more regular. The 

 stouter spindles are frequently somewhat oblong in out- 

 line, being of nearly uniform size to near the ends, where 

 they taper abruptly ; their warts are larger, rough, often 

 lobed, unequal, and closely crowded. Besides these 

 there are many short, thick, irregular spicula, covered 

 with very unequal, rough, irregular warts. 



The lojiger spindles measure .552 millimetres by .108 ; 

 .516 by .084; .504 by .072; .492 by .096; .480 by .096; 

 .480 by .084. The stouter spindles .540 by .120 ; .456 by 

 .144; .420 by .096 ; .432 by. 120; .324 by .072. The 

 irregular spicula .252 by .108 ; .204 by .120. 



EcHiNOMURiCEA Vcrrill. 



American Journal of Science, "Vol. 47, p. 285, Marcli, 1869. 



This genus has been established for the following 

 remarkable species, which appears to be sufficiently 

 distinct from Acanthogorgia and Paramuricea, to both 

 of which it is allied. It is peculiar in having the ver- 

 rucas surrounded at base by numerous very long, 

 stout, thorny and branched, spine-like spicula, which 

 are crowded and somewhat imbricated, not placed in 

 whorls. 



EcHiNOMURiCEA cocciNEA Vcrrill, 1. c, p. 285, = 

 Acanthogorgia coccinea V. (Vol. IV, p. 188, PL 6, fig. 

 7, 7a). 



ISID^. 



Parisis laxa Verrill, Vol. IV, p. 190. 



This species occurs, also, as I am informed by Dr. Lut- 

 ken, in Formosa Channel. 



