ALCTONABIA. 349 



spicules agree with those of specimens akeady in the National 

 coUeotion. 



Hah. Warrior Eeef, Torres Straits, 12 fms. ; oif North-west Oape, 

 W. Australia, 3-4 fms. (Studer). 



The known distribution is : — Indian Ocean (Pallas), Seas 'of the 

 Moluccas (Lamarck), India and China (Grray), Cuba (Mm. Brit, 

 coll. H. Christy). 



The occurrence of this species oflf Cuba is a remarkable- case of 

 distribution, but must be taken to be correct, as I can, after 

 careful examination, find no grounds for separating the specimen 

 from the above and other undoubted specimens oi pectinata. Indeed 

 it agrees with the Torres-Straits specimen more closely than 

 with other, probably Indian Ocean, examples ; the verruca-spicules, 

 which are neither figured nor fully describecP by KoUiker (' Icones 

 Histiologicae '), show a modification of the same type as those of 

 the general cortex, being only more elongated than those, and 

 bearing two and sometimes three distinct whorls of tubercles, besides 

 a few median terminal ones on each half of the spicule ; the two 

 inner whorls almost meet in the middle, so as to obliterate the median 

 bare zone which is characteristic of the cortical spicules. 



ScLEEOGOEGIACEi. 



SUB£R0G0S6IA. 



Suberogorgia, Gh-ay, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 159. 



Pterogorgia (pars), Dana, Zooph. p. 647 ; M.-Bdwards ^ Haime, 



Hist. Cor. p. 167(1857). 

 Sclerogorgia, Kolliker, Icon. Histiol. ii. Abth. pp. 142, 144 (1865), 



24. Suberogorgia suberosa. 



Gorgonia suberosa, Pallas, Blench. Zooph. p. 191 ; Esper, P/Umzenth. 

 Fortsetz. i. p. 170, pi. jdix. 



One magnificent specimen, attaining a height of 87'5 centim. (35 

 inches) and a maximum lateral expansion of 50 centim. (20 inches), 

 also several smaller ones, all dry, and two small examples in spirit. 

 Pallas says that it often reaches the height of 3 feet. 



Studer records it from the north-west coast of Australia at 50 

 fms. It appears not to have been recorded until now from Torres 

 Straits or any locality in the Pacific Ocean. 



Hab. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. ; Alert Island and West 

 Island, Torres Straits, 7 fms. 



BRIAREID^. 



25. Briarenm, ?sp. 

 A crumbling spirit-specimen of what is, perhaps, a species of this 



