Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgoncllidae. 277 



In view of our previous discussion on Uio various characters which may 

 be considered of taxonomic importance, we may now take each of these 

 genera in rotation. 



(1) Ctcnocdla. — Only one species of this genus has so far been described, 

 so that the generic diagnosis given above is a recapitulation of its specific 

 characters. In spiculation it is essentially of the Scirpearia-type ; and the 

 particular kind of spicules described above is quite characteristic of the 

 group. It corresponds to the elongated double-club, which may approximate to 

 the double-spindle, and eventually to the simple spindle which has been already 

 described. It has been my privilege to examine a large number of colonies 

 of this species (pectinata), and the only character in which it differs essentially 

 from other genera is its peculiar mode of branching. The secondary and ter- 

 tiary branches (see figs. 36-41), however, are long, simple, and flagelliform ; 

 and if one of these detached branches be taken for identification, it will at 

 once be referred to the genus Scirpearia. The disposition of the verrucae 

 and the tyjxs of spicules correspond in every detail with the diagnosis 

 of Scirpearia. Is it justifiable, then, to continue recognizing a genus on the 

 basis of its branching alone, when a part of the same colony may be 

 indisputably referred to another genus ? We prefer to answer this question 

 in the negative, and consequently abolish the genus Ctenocella, and rank the 

 only known species under the name Scirpearia pedinata. 



(2) Ellisdla. — It will be remembered that Kolliker in 1864 first drew 

 attention to the spicules of this family, and, with the small amount of 

 material at his disposal, separated the genus Juncella into two groups. 



(1) Those with clubs {J. juncca and /. gcmmacea), and (2) those without 

 clubs {J. dongata). 



Studer (1878) in revising the family limited the generic diagnosis thus : — 



(1) Spicules : clubs, and double-clubs (Juncella). 



(2) Spicules : double-clubs, and spindles — 



A. Calyces not prominent (EUisella). 



B. Calyces markedly projecting (Scirpearia). 



In discussing the question of the nature of the verrucae we pointed out 

 that this character could not be relied upon for even specific determination, 

 so that Studer's groups A and B, or, in other words, the genera Ellisella and 

 Scirpearia, cannot on this basis be regarded as distinct. 



In the descriptions of the various species of Ellisella which have since 

 been established no further character of generic importance has been added, 

 and an examination of the generic diagnosis of Ellisella and Scirpearia, given 

 by Wright and Studer, shows them to be identical. Wc ha\e examined the 



