Volume I Part 42 (2/2)

12. P. campanula, n. sp.

Cells campanulate, border entire; lateral and anterior appendages ca.n.a.licular. Branches alternate. Ovicells ---- ?

Habitat: Ba.s.s Strait, 45 fathoms dead sh.e.l.ls.

There appear to be two varieties of this species, or that different portions of the same polypidom may a.s.sume very different characters. The larger and probably more common form, is at first sight extremely like P.

catharina, but it will soon be noticed that the branches are alternate instead of opposite. The shape of the cells and their average size is precisely the same as in that species. The lateral and anterior appendages differ in form very considerably. In P. catharina these organs are longer, more slender, infundibuliform, whilst in P. campanula they are shorter and thicker and the terminal cup is open on one side or ca.n.a.licular. The ovicells might perhaps afford a more striking characteristic, but they are unfortunately wanting in all the specimens of P. campanula. The second variety is much slenderer, unbranched, the cells and their appendages smaller but of the same form, and the cells usually contain a ma.s.s of opaque black matter. This species is parasitic, and appears to attain a height of several inches.

Fam. 4. CAMPANULARIADAE.

4. CAMPANULARIA, Lamarck.

1. C. volubilis (?) Ellis.

Habitat: Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Strait.

As one or two ovicells, parasitic upon Sertularia pristis, are the only evidences of this species that have come under observation, some doubt as to ident.i.ty of the species with the British form may be entertained.

1. C. dumosa, Pallas.

Habitat: Ba.s.s Strait.

Parasitic upon Sertulariae. Rather more slender than the usual British form, but otherwise identical.

5. LAOMEDEA, Lamouroux.

1. Laomedea torressii, n. sp.

Cells campanulate, nearly sessile upon an incra.s.sated collar projecting from the stem. Margin of mouth not thickened, with four shallow excavations.

Habitat: Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Strait.

Of a light brown colour, two or three inches high. At first sight it is very like Laomedea antipathes, Lamouroux, which occurs in New Zealand, but differs materially in its smaller size and in the four shallow emarginations of the mouth, which part in L. antipathes is entire and with the margin a little thickened.

Note. Circ.u.mstances having prevented the insertion here of descriptions of new species of Lunulites (Table 1 figures 13 to 16) and a few other Zoophytes of the Voyage of the Rattlesnake--examined by Mr. Busk subsequently to the preceding paper having been placed in the printer's hands--I may mention that the descriptions in question will shortly be published elsewhere. J. MCG.

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