390 THE GORGONIANS OF THE BRAZILIAN COAST. 



Filigella gracilis Gray. 



» 



Gray, op. cit., p. 443, text-fig. 2, 1868. Wright and Studer, Voy. Chall d iw icon , 

 description). *' H * 0<6 ' 188y (no 



This species is represented as very slender and thread-like, with the calicle 

 alternate and far apart, low-conical, or verruciform. Distance between calicles 

 1.75 inches. No other dimensions are given, but the reduced figure shows about 

 20 calicles. If the distance between refers to those of one row and only ten 

 belong to a row, the length would be at least 17 inches, but this is conjectural. 



Off Cape Frio, Brazil, with Pennatulacea (Gray). The type is said to have 



been lost 



Family GORGONIDjE Verrill 



Gorgonidce (restr.) Verrill, Proc. Essex Inst., Salem, Mass., vol. IV, pp. 148, 186, 1865- and vol 

 VI, p. 41, 1869. Trans. Conn. Acad. Science, vol, I, p. 384, 1868, 1st ed.: 1869. 2d ed' Wrieht 

 and Studer, Voy. Chall., vol. XXXI, p. 146, 1889. ' ' W gDt 



Unarmed Gorgonacea having the ccenenchyma and calicle-walls filled with an 

 aggregation of very small, simple, unbranched spicules, without any very definite 

 arrangement, and without larger spicules or spinules at the surface. 



Spicules are mostly girdled double-spindles, simple spindles, double-rosettes, 

 double-wheels, and scaphoids. 



The axis is either horny or partially calcareous, without joints. It is usually 

 variously branched, generally in a plane; branchlets anastomosing or free. It 

 may be unbranched, long and slender. 



Calicles are small, often immersed in the ccenenchyma. Tentacles are 

 nearly always wholly retractile, often bearing small spicules in chevrons on the 

 stems. 



Adaxial nutrient canals are usually bilaterally disposed, especially in the 

 smaller branches. There is usually a larger one at the middle line of each broad 

 side, and a corresponding superficial groove usually shows at the surface of dried 

 specimens. 



As above defined, this family would not only include the Gorgonidse having 

 a horny axis, but also part, if not all, of the Gorgonellidse, in which the axis is 

 largely calcareous. Indeed, in my own opinion, the latter group should be 

 considered merely a section or subfamily of Gorgonidse, under the name Gorgo- 

 nellince, or better, Ellisellince. 



This view is much strengthened by the study of the Brazilian species, described 

 below, for several of the otherwise typical species of Gorgonia and Leptogorgia 

 are found to have the axis calcareous in a marked degree, indeed as much so as 

 in Gorgonella sarmentosa, the type of Gorgonella and of the group called Gorgo- 

 nellidse. G. sarmentosa might even be considered a Leptogorgia with a partially 

 calcareous axis, for the spicules are nearly as in Leptogorgia, as well as the calicles. 

 Indeed, Kolliker, in his revision, placed it with the Leptogorgia group, as some 

 others have done later. 



Other genera of Gorgonellidse, like Verrucella, Juncella, Viminella, usually 



