32 millim., consists of a strongly flattened, rather undulating portion,
with a midrib 1 to 2 millim. thick running longitudinally down its
middle, on each side of which the edges are drawn olit so as to
form a double-edged knife-like ending, with a maximum breadth of
7 millim. ; above, this is united to the hollowed, zooid-bearing part
by a cylindrical portion, 20 millim. long and 3 millim. in maximum
thickness, apparently solid. Ouly 10 millim. from the commencement
of the zooid-bearing part, a strong tubular branch is given off,
and another on the same side onlj" 4 millim. further up the terminal
tube, which is considerably bent to one side, and constitutes
with the last mentioned branch a true bifurcation, which thus takes
place at only 14 millim. from the commencement of the functionally
active section of the colony.
The colony is thus manifestly young, for the stem is 65 millim.
long, while the zooid-bearing part is only 40 millim. long and carries
near the end of each of its branches one or more narrow spatular
or grooved processes from 8 to 15 millim. in length, recalling those
which attain so great a development (up to 10 centim. long, Studer)
in N. grmji, Studer, and in S. {Solenogorgia) tubulosa, Genth. The
maximum antero-posterior diameter of the tubular part of the colony
is only 8 millim. The verrucæ form a single row on each side of
the tubes and spatulate processes. The colour differs from th at of
the type specimen of the species in being a dull pale orange, with
dark purplish verrucæ, whereas in th at specimen it is for the most
part (in its present dry condition) a dull umber-hrown with a tint
of red, with a reddish lateral hand including the verrucæ. The
length of the spatulate processes does not appear to me sufficient to
show any close connection with S . grayi ; and as the spicules agree
essentially with those of the type of S. tortuosum, I retain th at name
for this specimen as well.
As Stiider’s account of the spiculation of the species appears
erroneous in some points, I give herewith the results of an examination
of the type specimen. Cortical spicules :—(i.) Clavate or
excentrieally fusiform, covered with coarse, prominent, cylindrical
tubercles, often roughened terminally ; size of spicule -21 to ‘39 by
•06 to -12. (ii.) Superficial, short, broad, cylindrical, with about 3
rude whorls of very prominent ragged tubercles ; size of spicule about
•14 by -07 millim. [this spicule is not figured by Studer for the species,
but a very similar form is given by him as the axial spicule of S. grayi,
under which species is also figured one which differs from (ii.) mainly
in having simpler tubercles]. The white chalky axial mass consists
mainly, if not exclusively, of (iii.) long cylindricals with rounded
ends, hearing sharjvpointed tubercles a t considerable intervals ; size
of spicule about -38 by -035 millim. The external longitudinal
verrucæ-spicules (iv.) are irregularly fusiform or cylindrical, strongly
roughened by prominent closely-set tubercles, and measure about
•18 by -07 millim. ; towards the mouth of the verruca these pass
into irregular flattened or styliform bodies about -14 millim. long
by '017 millim. broad, (v.) The horizontal spicules of the verrucæ
are fusiform, tapering gracefully to rounded points, more or less
curved ; they bear numerous small, smooth, and rounded tubercles
and measure '4 to '6 by 'OSS to ‘06 millim. [Comparing Studer’s
species S. graiji with this species, it appears to correspond closely
with it, hut is perhaps distinct by virtue of the smaller size of the
spicules and the simple character of their tubercles, as stated above.]
Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms., bottom rocks and
coral ; Arafura Sea, off N.AV. coast of Australia, 32-36 fms., bottom
sand, mud, and shells. Also Mermaid Strait, N.AV. Australia {Studer).
Ohs. I t is interesting to note th a t it is the specimen which comes
from a rocky bottom which has the simple, moderately long, cylindrical
stem resembling th at of the type specimen, while th at which
came from a loose bottom (sand &c.) has a long spatulate termination,
well adapted for maintaining the colony in an upright position
in this less stable material.
I t seems extremely probable from the account given by Alessrs.
Milne-Edwards and Ilaime {I.e.) of the external characters of their
Coelogorgia p>almosa,\h.at it is generically identical Yriih Solenocaulum-,
but finding a very different spiculation indicated in a Paris slide
in this Alusenm, which professes to belong to the species, I prefer
to follow Studer in leaving the question for future investigation.
31. Leucoella cervicornis.
Leucoella cervicornis. Gray, Ann. 8; Mag. N. H. (4) v. p. 408.
A Briareacean intermediate in its characters between Sidieria,
Studer (AIB. Ak. Berlin, 1878, p. 666), and Solenocaulum, Gray.
Its most striking external feature is the broad posterior space devoid
of polypes and (in the dry state, at any rate) indented by a wide
groove. In the type specimens in the British Aluseum the verrucæ
mostly have rounded blunt terminations, about 1 millim. iu maximum
height ; in a specimen, however, contained in the present
collection they are mostly pointed and very prominent, viz. 2 millim.
high in some cases. AVhereas also in the type specimen the colour
is somewhat pale umher-hrown, in the present specimen the colour is
very dark umber-hrown, becoming almost black at the tips of the verrucæ
; in this specimen the anterior aspects of the tips of the branches
are almost devoid of verrucæ and usually much flattened, while the
verrucæ on the anterior and lateral faces of the other parts are placed
at distinct intervals ; the latter are closely set in about equal proportions
over all parts of the anterior and lateral surfaces of the
stem and branches. The axial spicules (i.) in both specimens are
cylindrical, pointed at the ends, and covered with small sharp
tubercles ; size -35 to -42 by -024 to -027 millim. The cortical spicules
are either (ii.) fine, long, fusiform, tapering to points at both ends,
provided with numerous, hnt distinct prominent tubercles, -28 to -42
millim. by '053 to -08 millim., or (iii.) squat fusiform, with the ends
more rounded than in (ii.), with the tubercles stouter and blunter
but crowded together ; size -14 to -28 by -053 to -07 millim. This
specimen furnishes us with a locality for the species, th a t of the
original specimen not being known.
Hah. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. ; bottom rock.
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