interval of 145 millim., in planes which are at right angles with
ono another. The hard axis is tongh and flexible : its colour is
th at of whalcbono at the hasal end, where it is 1-5 millim. iu diameter
; it is about -G millim. thick at tho apex of the stouter branch.
The cortex is firm, roughened by the slight projection of the verrucæ,
which usually form three alternating rows on each side of a slight
median hare space. The verrucæ, which are open, are oval elevations,
ju st sufficiently raised to render tho surface of the cortex
uneven ; their long axis follows th at of the stem or branch, and is
about •() millim. long ; they are not swollen Avart-like, bnt rather
resemble the reverse side of holes made in paper by thrusts with a
sharp point, whereby a thin rim of broken paper is made to extrude
a t the opposite side to th at from which the hole is made. Between
the verrucæ the cortex is smooth or even glabrous. Colour dull
crimson. Cortical spicules fusiform, with two main whorls, distinct
from each other, of distinct, low, rough tubercles ; a few
larger ones have two smaller snhterminal whorls, distinct from
the median ones, of similar character, and beyond them the apex
is formed by a pointed or irregular, more or less tuberculate end;
hut in most cases the outer pair of whorls practically terminate
the spicule ; size ’087 to '106 bj" ’053 millim. ; colour deep crimson.
Hah. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. ; bottom rock.
Obs. The only points in which I find this species to differ from
VcrrilPs description are the slightly inferior diameter of the spicules,
the absence of longitudinal grooves to the stem &c., the crimson-
red colour, the branching not being confined to one plane.
I f this species should prove to he identical with Verrill’s it will
he a remarkable case of distribution, as the latter was obtained
from the Bay of Panama ; but it must he remembered th at the
specimen is single and imperfect.
16. Leptogorgia australiensis. ( P l a t e XXXYI. figs. C, O', c, c .)
Corallum flahelliform, branching in one plane. A small number
(two or three) of main branches are given off by the short
common stem, and are pinnate a t short intervals with long simple
pinnæ or branchlets, generally alternate, diminishing in length
towards the ends of the branches ; a few pinnæ may be themselves
pinnate. Base thin, small. Main stem cylindrical. The main
branches are almost straight, the pinnæ curve upwards ; both
branches and pinnæ are much flattened out laterally, tapering to
slender, slightly hastate apices. Main stem in large adult specimens
about 6 millim. in diameter, main branches 5 millim. at base ; pinnæ
ranging in size from 15 centim. in length by 2 | millim. in greatest
diameter to 6 centim. by 1 millim., in exceptional cases 20 centim.
(8 inches) long. Surface almost smooth, hut for the polype-cells
and some grooves and raised lines. The main stem is marked by
a few shallow longitudinal furrows ; the branches are provided on
both the anterior and posterior faces with a more or less distinct
furrow, slightly undulating (sometimes very tortuous, much interriipted,
and accompanied by raised margins); near their origin
some of the chief pinme show similar furrows a t their bases, extending
some distance upwards in those which have themselves
become pinnate. These grooves may be replaced in parts of the
specimen* by irregular raised lines. Verrucae distributed with more
or less regularity in two alternating rows down each lateral face
of the branches and the pinnae (often uniserial in young specimens),
in number from 18 to 36 to an inch on each side; they appear
as low, gradually elevated prominences, often barely elevated, but
most so near the tips of the pinnae ; the mouth is formed by a
longitudinal slit extended in the direction of the long dxis of the
branch. Cortex about -6 millim. thick on main stem. Axis black
in stem, filiform, transparent, and pale brown at tips of pinnae.
Spicules fusiform, long or short, beset with prominent tubercles
arranged in whorls in the median portion of the spicule, massed
together a t the en d s; whorls separated by more or less distinct
bare spaces; about 8 whorls in long fusiform spicules, 4 in stout
ones; tubercles fungiform, consisting of a cylindrical base with an
expanded and roughened apex. Spicules either lemon-yellow,
chrome-yellow, deep crimson, or (rarely) partly crimson and partly
yellow or colourless. Dimensions (average maximumf)
millim. millim.
i. Long fusiform spicules . . -152 by -038 to -177 by -038 to -044.
ii. Stout fusiform spicules . . 'lOS by -05 to '127 by •041.
iii. Verruca-spicules(fusiform) '139 by •031 to •146 by •032.
Xo other forms of spicule observed.
Two forms of this species may be distinguished:—
(1) A*ar. jlavotincta. Stem, main branches, and bases of pinnae
of pale brownish-yellow colour, inclining to crimson-red in the
neighbourhood of the cells ; the latter colour characterizes the remaining
pai’ts of the pinnae and becomes deeper towards their apices;
the paler tints are due to the intermixture of crimson and yellow
spicules ; the ends of the pinnae possess crimson spicules only. The
spicules measure—(i.) long fusiforms -177 by -038; (ii.) stout
fusiforms -127 by -041; (iii.) verruca-spicules -142 by -038 millim.
(2) Aav. perflava. Whole corallum bright yellow, being lemon-
yellow in one specimen and chrome-yellow in another. The spicules
are almost all of a bright yellow colour, some of a darker tint
than others ; a crimson one is occasionally to be found. Dimensions
(average greatest):—
Ohi'ome-yellow specimen. Lemon-yellow specimen,
millim. millim.
i. Long fusiform . . . . -165 by -044. -152 by -038.
ii. Stout fusiform . . . . ^12 by '05. -108 by '05.
iii. A’errnca-spicule . . •146 by •032. 'ISQ by •031.
* Perhaps due, as also the variations in the grooves, to wrinkling of the
cortex during the process of drying.
t The endeavour has been to arrive at the size of the adult spicule in each
case, by a series of comparative measurements; the variations here gi\euare
those occurring in different specimens.
ti