some small bad specimens ; they are respectively 200 and 220
millim. (8 and 9 inches) long, extreme lateral extension in the natural
state probably about 70 millim. (3 inches). This variety is remarkable
for its variability in external characters, for the great relative
length of tho terminal branches, and the early stage at which branching
commences, and by the ridged character of the face of the Blatt-
kenle spicule ; in most other respects it closely approaches the
following variety.
Plexaura prælonga, var. cinerea. ( P l a t e X X X Y III. fig. 7i.)
Growth upright, in one plane. Stem long. Branching approximately
dichotomous ; branches few, flexuous ; terminal branches 100
to 150 millim. (4 to 6 inches) long ; stem and branches cylindrical,
approximately of one diameter, viz. about 2-3 millim., throughout.
Cortex minutely rough, even, fairly tenacious. Colour in dry
state dark dirty grey. Verrucæ small, slightly projecting from the
surface as low mounds, their openings extended in direction of length
of brancli ; about 1 millim. distant from each other, equally distri^
bnted all over cortex. Axis tough, flexible, glossy dark brown.
Cortical spicules :—(i.) Long fusiform, approximately straight,
tapering to sharp points, with scattered, tapering, sharp, simple
tubercles ; size -21 to -35 by '07 millim. (ii.) Stout fusiform-cylindrical,
curved, rather thickly covered with low compound tubercles,
often extended in direction of circumference of spicule, with pointed
ends ; size about ‘3 by ’12 millim. (iii.) Irregular tri- to sexradiate,
the arms cylindrical, blunt, covered with few and scattered,
mostly low and blunt tubercles ; maximum diameter of spicule
*18 to ’21 millim., thickness of arms ‘042 to '053 millim. (iv.)
Blattkeule, extremely variable in form ; shaft provided with very
stout neck, generally branching into two (occasionally three) stout
arms ; the latter are well covered with compound, rather angular
tubercles, the neck and proximal part of foliar portion hearing
broader, more fungiform tubercles ; the foliar portion is flattened
in one plane, and either transversely oblong with four rounded
angles, or cordate with sharp lancet-like extremity, or with the
lower extremity prolonged into several long teeth ; the edges are
thin and always more or less dentate, at any rate at the outer
extremity, with small teeth ; the proximal part of the face carries,
as already mentioned, a few large, fungoid, compound tubercles ;
one variety which has the edges much dentate has also a number
of small tubercles extended almost as far outwards as the edges.
Size of spicule about -35 long by -35 millim. broad.
Hah. Port Curtis, Queensland, 5-10 fms. ; bottom sand and
shells.
This variety is represented by a single dry specimen, measuring
230 and 180 millim. (9 and 7 inches) in extreme height and diameter
respectively. I t differs from var. typica chiefly in the tuberculate
rather than ridged character of the faces of the “ B la tt” of the
Blattkeule spicule.
With regard to the relation of this to other species, perhaps tho
Chilian forms described by Philippi (Arch, für Naturg. 1866, p. 116)
are the closest allies ; their growth is similar to that oi P. prælonga ;
their spiculation is not, however, described.
14. Plexaura miniacea.
? Plexaura miniacea, Ehrenherg, Cor. roth. Meer. p. 141.
I assign to this species with great doubt a very small Gorgoniid
of bright crimson colour, branching frequently and dichotomously
in one plane, and thus forming what in an older specimen would
probably be a reticulate corallum. The branches are slightly flattened
from front to back ; the terminal ones are short (not exceeding
10 millim.) ; maximum diameter of stem about 2'5 millim., of tips
of branches (which are somewhat clavate) 1’25 to 1-75 millim.
Cortex compact, minutely rough. Verrucæ slightly prominent,
orbicular. Axis flexible, glabrous, greenish to amber-hrown.
Blattkeule spicule of cortex very like th at of Echinogorgia cerea,
Esper, as figured by Kolliker*, with shaft composed of one median,
slender pointed, aud two shorter alar rays with scattered, rounded,
simple or compound tubercles ; foliar portion consisting of wedge-
shaped processes, the middle one the longest, edges minutely scalloped,
faces rendered uneven by longitudinal striæ or angular ridges ;
size about ’35 by '14 millim. The cortical radiate aud sleuder
fusiform spicules resemble in character those of P. cinerea (supra),
but they are only about half the maximum size of those of that
species. I have not observed a stout cylindro-fusiform. Ehrenberg
does not assign any locality to his species.
Hab. Port Darwin, north coast of Australia, 8 -12 fms., bottom
mud and sand ; also Hammond Island, Torres Straits (coll. by E M.
Rayner, in Brit. Mus.).
Ohs. The specimen last referred to shows decided anastomosis of
the branches.
Go EGON I A C E® .
15. Leptogorgia flexilis.
? Litigorgia flexilis, Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad. iv. p. 400 (edition 1);
and Amer. Journ. Sci. (2) xlviii. p. 42.
? Leptogorgia flexilis, id. I. c. edit. 2.
I refer to this species with some doubt a single dry specimen,
broken off below, consisting of a cylindrical main axis, 10 inches
(250 millim.) long, and diminishing in diameter from 2-25 millim.
a t base to 1'25 in greatest diameter of the somewhat flattened apex,
bent over (perhaps accidentally), so th at the apex points downwards;
two branches, 36 and 32 millim. respectively iu length,
decidedly flattened, and having an apical diameter of P25 and 2-0
millim. respectively, are given off at angles of about 45° and at an
?
j ! l i
I I
' M f '
S i'
I ■
éI
k i
' Mil
!■; '
:'tej
ll
'' '■ I
’
1.
7 I