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Show 46 MISS ISA L. HILES ON GORGONACEAN [Jan. 17, The nostrils are much larger even than in Palceornis and as near together, the interorbital vacuity is large, the squamosal is not expanded distally, the temporal fossa is small, the auditory meatus is narrower, and the post-auditory area broader than in any of these other three genera of Palceornithince. The skull of Pachynus differs from that of Chrysotis and Pionus (between which it is placed by Salvadori) in its incomplete orbit and its extremely rudimentary postorbital process. The squamosal process is straighter and narrower, and the post-auditory area somewhat broader. Brotogerys likewise differs from Conurus in its larger and more approximate nostrils, its very small postorbital process, and its more expanded post-auditory area. The skull of Pceocephalus has large nostrils, a small postorbital process, a straight, rather short, squamosal. It certainly differs in these respects from its supposed ally Caica. The post-auditory region is extremely tumid, and the crescentic border of the meatus forms a deep notch above. I am unable to draw from the cranial characters of this genus any clear inference as to its closer relationships. 3. Report on the Gorgonacean Corals collected by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner at Funafuti. By ISA L. H I L E S, B.Sc. (Vict.), Owens College, Manchester.1 [Eeceived November 2, 1898.] (Plates I.-IV.) Of the forms of Gorgonacean Corals sent to me by Mr. Gardiner for identification and examination the majority belong to the familv Muriceidae. There is one Gorgonellid-Verrucella granifera Kolliker;two Sclerogorgic forms of Gorgonidse-Suberogorgia verriculata Esper, and Kerceides koreni Wright & Studer; and one Plexaurid, Euplexaura antipathes Klunzinger. Among the representatives of the Muriceidre there are three new forms-Villogorgia rubra, Acamptogorgia spinosa, and Muricella fiexilis. The specimens have been very carefully preserved in spirit, but unfortunately in some cases the endoderm is not complete, and therefore they are not so useful for anatomical examination as they would otherwise be. 1 am much indebted to Professor Hickson for the great help he has given me, especially with regard to the literature. The classification adopted is that used by Wright and Studer in the ' Challenger' Report on Alcyonaria. 1 Communicated by Prof. SYDNEY J. HICKSON, F.E.S., F.Z.S. |
