Simpson — A Revision of the GorgoneUidae. 339 



XXV.— Scirpearia furcata. Figs. 69-91. 



Scirpcaria fu/rcata Hickson, xv., p. 822; figs. 8 and 9. 



Scirpearia fm-cata var. (?) Hickson xv., p. 822. 



ScirpearcUa indica Hickson, xv., p. 822 ; fig. 10. 



Scirpearia sp. (?) Thomson and Henderson, xxxix., p. 313, PI. iv. 



fig. 1 ; PI. v., fig. IG. 

 Sdrpearella sp. B. Thomson and Henderson, xxxix., p. 312. 



Juncella eloiigata (Val.) Hickson, x., p. 821. 



Sdrpearella aurantiaca Th. & Eussell, p. 163. 



Perhaps no species in the whole family shows so great variability or has 

 given so much trouble as the one now under consideration. Hickson formed 

 two new species on fragments from the Maldives, and referred one to 

 Scirpearia, the other to Scirpearella. At the same time he hesitatingly 

 referred some fragments to the species Juncella elongaia.. Thomson and 

 Henderson, in the Ceylon Alcyonaria Eeport, refrained from naming some 

 fragments which did not seem to agree with any of the formerly described 

 species. They referred one to the genus Scirpearia as Scirpearia sp. (?), the 

 other to Scirpearella as Sciipearella sp. B., and iu so doing give the following 

 note : — 



" Our impression is that the elougafceci forms of Scirpearella, Juncella, and 

 the like, so monotonous in general appearance, so perplexingly diSerent when 

 one gets beneath the surface, are subject to great variability." 



Before proceeding to differentiate the reasons upon which I have merged 

 all these species under the earliest name it might be well to give a short 

 description of the different specimens. I'rofessor Hickson has very kindly 

 sent me small portions of his Scirpearella indica and Juncella elongata, as 

 well as the type specimen of Scirpearia furcata figured in his report. 

 Professor Thomson has also placed pieces of the Ceylon specimens at my 

 disposal. This has been of immense service to me, as only by means of a 

 critical examination of these and other specimens to be described later, could 

 a thorough specific determination be arrived at. 



Scirpearia sp. (?) Thomson and Henderson. 



A beautiful colony, 41 cm. in length. The base has been broken off, but 

 probably not far from the present base. The main stem, after a distance of 

 4: cm., bifurcates, and gives origin to Lwu long, whip- like branches ; these are 

 almost equal in length. The diametei oi the main stem is 2*o mm., that of 

 the branches at their origin 2 mm., and neir the tip I'o mm. There is thus 

 only a very gradual tapering. 



