[XII.] 



THE ALCYONARIA. 



Part II. 



BY THOMAS WHITELEGGE, 

 Zoologist, Australian Museum. 



The collection of Gorgonidw made by Mr. 0. Heclley, although 

 small in number, is particularly interesting from the fact that, of 

 the ten species obtained, eight prove to be new. 



Included in the collection is a number of noteworthy forms 

 belonging mostly to genera containing but few species. 



The species described as new are as follows : Keroeides gracilis, 

 Acanthogorgia breviflora, Ar.thomuricea simplex, Villogorgiaflagel- 

 lata, Bebryce Studeri, Muricella purpurea, Micella laxa and Ver- 

 rucella flabellata. Six out of the eight genera above mentioned, 

 have not previously been represented in the Museum collection. 



The wealth of the Pacific Ocean in Gorgonidai, indicated by 

 the Challenger Report, has been further emphasized by the inves- 

 tigation of the Funafuti fauna. 



The result of these studies has been to enlarge genera hitherto 

 only represented by one or two species ; thus, another species has 

 each been added to the monotypic genera Keroeides and Nicella, 

 the former inhabiting the coast of Japan, the latter that of 

 Mauritius. Anthomuricea and Bebryce have each been increased 

 by an additional species. 



The whole of the specimens with two exceptions (Plexaura 

 atriipathes and Heliopora) were obtained by tangles on the outer 

 reef, at a depth of from 40 to 70 fathoms. 



Mr. Edgar R. Waite has again fovoured me with the drawings 

 from which the accompanying plates have been reproduced. 



The following notes have been supplied by Mr. C. Hedley : 

 " Dead specimens of the Heliopora were abundant, a raised bed 

 of it indicating upheaval is described, ante p. 11. Numerous 

 colonies, each extending over many square yards were seen in two 

 or three fathoms depth on the lagoon coast of the main islet, but 

 on procuring pieces by the aid of a native diver, they always 

 proved to be dead, having perhaps been smothered by shifting 



