Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

;ALCTONARIA. 337broad ; the rim is beset with scattered spine-like spicula withbranched bases, about two deep ; the points project directly upwardsin the expanded state.Spicules of general cortex :—(i.) Conical, with rounded broad endtapering to moderately sharp smaller end, the whole thickly coveredwith very coarse ])lunt tubercles; size '32 to '35 by "123 to '177millim. (ii.) Conical to fusiform, with prominent proliferatingtubercles ; size about -38 by -1 to •14 millim. (iii.) Tri- to quadriradiate,the arms stout or slender, pointed, covered with roughabout '53 millim. in maximum length andtubercles like those of (ii.) ;•07 to ^14 millim. in maxinium diameter of the arms, (iv.) Verrucaspiculeswith expanded ramifying basal portion, whose branchesare lobose and marginally denticulate and bear low scattered spines ;the upright projecting portion or spine which helps to form thefringe on the rim of the verructe is smooth, approximately^ straight,and tapers from its base to a sharp point ; total length of spicule•035 to •OS millim., total breadth •177 to •46 millim. ;projectingspine alone •25 to ^37 by ^053 to •087 millim. (basal diameter).Also less developed forms of the same type as (iv.). The zooidsthemselves contain long curved fusiform spicules with smooth ends,JJab. Port Curtis, Queensland, 5-11 fms., bottom sand and shells;Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms., bottom rock and coralWarrior Ileef, Torres Straits, bottom pearl-shells.Obs. This species is perhaps more nearly allied to E. atJantlca andE. grcnii than to E. coccinea, Stimpson, from which it differs in thenon-tubei'culation of the spine of the large verruca-spicule. Verrill'sspecimens were unbranched, but this maj^ have been due to youth.The long-spiued marginal spicule of the verruca of AcanthogorgiaatJantka is exactly like that of this species ; but that species differsfrom the present iu having the verrucae less distinctly marked outby a spicular crown and by the dark brown colour. The newspecies is represented in the present collection by three dry specimensand one in spirit ; the largest measures 230 millim. (9 inches)in maximum height, and 130 millim. (5 inches) iu maximum breadth.Specimens occur in the British Museum from Hongkong {coll.Dr. Harlan).ECHINOGORGIA, Kdlliler.In the following descriptions I have not thought it necessary todescribe the spicules of the verrucoe in all cases, as they appear toexhibit the same main characters throughout these species of Ecliinogorgiaand Plexaura.12. Echinogorgia flabellum,Autipatbes flabellum, Esper, Pjianzentldere, ii. p. 18"), Antipath.Gorgonia pseudo-antipathes, ul. op. cit. Fortsetz. ii. p. 32, pi. liv.(nee Gorgonella pseudo-antipathes, Kolliker, Icon. Histiol. p. 140,pi. xviii. tig. 42).? Gorgouia cancellata, Dana, Zooph. U. S. Expl. Erp. p. 058.z