Zoological Society. 69 exceptional character, the author feels strongly impressed with the belief that its eiFect has possibly been to give increased rigidity and immobility to the flexible crust of the earth, and to produce a state of equilibrium which might otherwise have been of long and slow attainment, whereby it has been rendered fit and suitable for the habitation and pursuits of civilized man*. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. February 1 1, 1862.— Dr. J. E. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. Description of some New Species of Spoggodes and of A New Allied Genus (Morchellana) in the Collection OF THE British Museum. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., F.L.S., ETC. The genus Spoggodes was established by Lesson on a coral that was described by Esper under the name of Alcyonium fioridum. It is characterized by the whole of its substance being membranous, very loosely cellular within, and covered externally with a layer of fusiform spicula which are most abundant round the cells. M. Milne-Edwards, in his ' Coralliaires,' only describes a single species. The species of the genus in the British Museum may be divided into two groups or subgenera. I. The polypes crowded together at the end of the branchlet, and the groups more or less surrounded by larger spicula of the branchlet. Spoggodes. I. Spoggodes Florida. The coral pale purplish-red (in spirits) ; stem thick, much branched, strengthened with very slender elongate purple spicules ; the branchlets short, clustered at the end of the branches, and form-ing convex heads or cells ; cells fringed with the very slender elon-gated spicules, and furnished with white, only partially contracted polypes. Alcypnium floridum, Esper, Pflanz. iii. 49, Alcy. t. 16, dry. Xinia furpureay Lamk. Hist. A. s. V. ii. 401, from Esper. Neptea floridtty Blainv. Man. Act. 523, from Esper. Spoggodes celosia, Lesson, 111. Zool. t. 21 ; M.-Edwards, Coral-liaires, i. 129, t. Bl. f. 1. Spoggodea celosia, Dana, Zoophytes, 626, t. 59. f. 4. Hab. Australia ; Sharks' Bay (Mr. Rayner) ; Philippine Islands (//. Cuming, Esq.). * In this and his former paper the author has used the term " pleistocene " in the sense of post-pleiocene, including also some beds placed in the newer pleiocene.
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