308 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



In 1901 he re-united under the name of Scirpearia aU the Gorgonellids 

 with a simple, flagelliform colony which have large verrucae in the form of 

 clubs, and whose spicules are double-clubs and spindles. The coenenchyma 

 is thick £md the colony is bilaterally symmetrical. The polyps are disposed 

 on two sides of the axis. 



Wright and Studer in 1889 give the following diagnosis : — '" Colony simple 

 with a cylindrical calcified axis and thin coenenchyma. The polyps are 

 seated in two longitudinal rows on each side of the stem. The spicules are 

 double-clubs and spindles. The genus may include Scirpearia mirabUis 

 Cu^ier and Vimindla JlageUum Gray." 



It must be remembered, however, that in the same memoir they separated 

 ofl" the genus Scirpearella as follows: — "Colony simple or very feebly branched. 

 Axis calcareous, brittle, smooth, or grooved. Polj-ps arranged iu rows or 

 spirals, retractile, with more or less prominent verrucae. Coenenchyma is 

 moderately thick and finely granular. The spicules are spiny spindles and 

 double-clubs. 



We have already shown, however, that such a distinction cannot be said 

 to obtain, and have already prop<jsed the uniting together of Scirpearia, 

 Scirpearella, EUisella, and Ctenocella, and have given an emended diagnosis. 



In this emended sense, then, we now proceed to classify specimens with 

 these characters into difTerent species. 



Before doing this, however, it might be well to give the following list of 

 the various species which have, from time to time, been referred to the genus 

 under consideration, under the names Scirpearia, Scirpearella, Ctenocella, and 

 EUisella :— 



Scirptnrin flagellum. 

 Scirpearia furcnta. 

 ScirjKarcUa profunda, 

 Scirpearella gracilis. 

 Scirpearella rubra. 

 ScirjKnrella itutica. 

 Scirpearella aurantinen. 

 Scirpearella alba. 

 Scirpearella divisa. 



L - 



EUisella coecinea. 

 Elliaella elongaia. 

 Ctenocella pectinala. 



