Simpson — A Revision of the Gorgonellidac. 295 



remarked that the spicules are ahimst indistinguishable from those of 

 J. janccK, while at the same time he expressed tiie opinion that ./. flexili^ 

 Studer might not be a distinct species. The position of this species has 

 already been discussed. 



It would be useless to go in detail into all the records of this species ; 

 and in fact, it is very difficult to say whether the records of J. jwncea and 

 J. gcmmacea are all correct in identification, as several authors do not mention 

 whether their colonies were simple or branched. Another complication, 

 however, creeps in. When fragments of colonies were examined, is it not 

 possible that a branch of J. gcmmacea might be referred to J. juncea, 

 especially when we remember that the question of branching is the chief 

 distinction between the two species ? 



Before going on to discuss the various characters of this species in detail, 

 I would give the following quotation, as it is not only of great interest, but 

 has apparently been overlooked by several authors in their identification of 

 this species. 



Ridley (1884) referred a colony from the N.-E. coast of Australia to 

 the species elongata ; but in 1887 (xxxii,, p. 241) he replaced it in the species 

 gcmmacea, noting that he had overlooked the fact that J. elongata had no 

 " clubs." He says : — " It will be seen that we probably have a very variable 

 species before us, colour, form, and size being alike not to be depended on by 

 themselves. The spiculation is fairly constant, but differs so little from 

 that of the allied forms [J.juiicellct and fragilis) as to be scarcely a sufficient 

 guide per se to the recognition of the species." 



From the fact that the specimen referred to was dichotomously branched, 

 I feel justified in recognizing it as J. gemiimcea. An interesting feature 

 about this specimen is the fact that when found it had been broken off at the 

 base, and the broken part had been overgrown with coenencJiyma, so that it 

 had been living free in the water. An analogous state was observed in the 

 case of a specimen of Isis hippuris Linn, in the Littoral Collection from the 

 Indian Ocean. 



In the Mergui Collection there is a large number of specimens of this 

 species, and these are augmented by several from the Indian Ocean Collection 

 from the Indian Museum, Calcutta. By means of these it has been possible 

 to study and compare several characters which are very variable in a 

 manner which would have been impossible with only a single or even a few 

 specimens. 



Branehiwj. — The mode of branching is of the nature of a false dichotomy. 

 The large main branches of the colony are again branched almost in one 

 plane, but Liie general appearance of the colony is bushy. 



R.I.A. PKOU., VOL. XXVIII., SECT. U, [2 R\ 



