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Show 1869.] MR. R. B. S H A R P E O N T H E G E N U S ALCYONE. 351 PLATE XXIV. Fig. 1. A small portion of the rigid skeleton of Farrea occa, exhibiting its angulated structure and central canals in the fibres, on which are dispersed numerous small attenuato-stellate retentive spicula, x 108 linear. Figs. 2, 3, & 4. Three of the small attenuato-stellate retentive spicula from F. occa, showing some of their numerous variations in form, size, and the number of their radii, figs. 2 & 3 X 400, & fig. 4 X 660 linear. Fig. 5. A spiculated biternate interstitial spiculum from F. occa, X 45 linear. Fig. 6. A furcated spiculated biternate interstitial spiculum from F. occa, x 65 linear. Fig. 7. A portion of the harrow-shaped quadrilateral siliceo-fibrous dermal structure of F. occa oppositely armed at its angles, X 50 linear. Fig. 8. A fragment of the siliceo-fibrous skeleton of Alcyoncellum speciosum. Fig. 9. A slender attenuated rectangulated hexradiate interstitial spiculum with nearly equal radii from A. speciosum, X175 linear. Fig. 10. A slender attenuated rectangulated hexradiated interstitial spiculum with elongated basal shaft from A. speciosum, X108 linear. Fig. 11. A very fine specimen of floricomo-hexradiate stellate retentive spiculum from A. speciosum, X 666 linear. PLATE XXV. Fig. 1. A portion of a section of the rigid skeleton of Myliusia Grayii, at right angles to the surface, exhibiting the crypt-like arrangement of the skeleton, X108 linear. Fig. 2. A section at right angles to the surface of the skeleton of Kaliapsis cidaris, from the surface to the basal prehensile organs, exhibiting the change of the structure from the basal canaliculated fibres to the imperforate and ramifying ones of the superior mass of the skeleton, X183 linear. Fig. 3. A portion of the minute ramifications of the fibrous structure of the surface of the rigid skeleton of K. cidaris, X308 linear. Fig. 4. Three of the foliato-peltate connecting spicula of the expansile dermal system of K. cidaris, one of them (a) having upon it a group of minute incipiently spinous fusiformi-cylindrical spicula, Xl75 linear. Fig. 5. Two of the minute incipiently spinous fusiformi-cylindrical spicula of the dermal membrane of K. cidaris, X666 linear. Fig. 6. A portion of the rigid skeleton of Purisiphonia Clarkei, exhibiting the irregular mode of disposition of the canaliculated siliceo-fibrous structure, and one of the rectangulated hexradiate interstitial spicula in situ, opposite (a), X 108 linear. Fig. 7. A n imperfect rectangulated hexradiate interstitial spiculum from P. Clarkei, X175 linear. 7. On the Genus Alcyone. By E. B. SHARPE. I propose to give short synopses of some of the more obscure genera of the family Alcedinidae, in order that the various species, before appearing in m y ** Monograph,' may be brought under the notice of ornithologists, and thus m y arrangements and synonymy may be fairly exposed to criticism. It is m y wish to make the Monograph of the Kingfishers as complete as possible ; and I therefore invite the criticisms of all m y friends, in order that I may be able to take advantage of them in m y larger work. |
