ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPE, ETC. 387 



Comatulid known (Strotometra ornatissimus), which exhibits an exag- 

 gerated eversion of the distal edges of the brachials, finding a parallel 

 only in the pentacrinite genus Comastrocrinus. J. A. T. 



Coelentera. 



New Australian Hydroids. — E. A. Briggs (Rec. Australian 31 us., 

 1918, 12, 27-47, 2 pis.). A description is given of two new Plumularids, 

 Aglaophema hoivensis sp. n., near A. sinuosa Bale ; and Aglaophenopsis 

 vaga sp. n., which differs considerably from the four previously described 

 members of this genus. These species were all recorded from North 

 American coasts, so the discovery of a fifth on the coast of New South 

 Wales is interesting. The genus is marked by the presence of a phylacto- 

 gonium, which is a jointed, unbranched appendage springing from the 

 proximal internode of the hydrocladium, and bearing a single row 

 of sarcothecffi, and one or two terminal hydrothecse. A revision is made 

 of the Hydroids of Lord Howe Island. J. A. T. 



New Sea-anemones from New Guinea.— Gilbert C. Bourne 

 {Quart. Journ. Micr. ScL, 1918, 63, 81-90, 3 pis., 2 figs.). A descrip- 

 tion is given of four new species of Phellia, and a new genus DecaphelUa 

 is erected for a fifth new form, with the characters of Phellia, save that 

 the capitulum has no musculature except for a mesogloeal sphincter at 

 its distal extremity, and that there are only ten complete macromesen- 

 teries bearing longitudinal retractor muscles. The order of appearance 

 of the tentacles in Phelliinie is discussed. It is argued that the 

 PhelliiuEe must stand apart from the other sub-families of the hetero- 

 geneous Sagartiidre (a group which has to be broken up), and must be 

 approximated to the Halcampidae. An interesting suggestion is made 

 in regard to the application of genetic principles to questions of morpho- 

 logy and classification. The presence of a single unit character like 

 acontia is not in itself such a positive mark of inter- relationship that all 

 the forms possessing it must be united into a single family. J. A. T. 



Irish Actiniaria. — T. A. Stephenson {Proc. R. Irish Acad., 1918, 

 34, 106-6J:, 7 pis.). A collection made off Ireland includes Garlgrenia 

 desiderata g. et sp. n., an Efidocoelactid with six pairs of macromesen- 

 teries, Actinostohi atrostorna sp. n., Cgmbactis gossei sp. n., Actinernus 

 aurelia sp. n., w'hich is like a jellyfish, Chondrodactis coccinea sp. n., and 

 two other new species of this genus. The paper includes much histo- 

 logical detail. The amoeboid cells of the mesogloea show considerable 

 variety, and seem to have nervous as well as nutritive functions. 



J. A. T. 



Nature of Madreporarian Skeleton. — G. Matthai {Proc. Cambridge 

 Phil. Soc, 1918, 19, 160-3). It seems highly probable that von 

 Heider was right in regarding the Madre])orarian skeleton as formed 

 within the calicoblastic protoplasm. The calicoblastic ectoderm is now 

 found to be a multinucleated sheet of protoplasm devoid of cell-limits, 

 i.e. a syncytium. In Alcyonarian and Madreporarians alike the skeleton 

 seems to be formed within syncytial protoplasm according to physical 

 laws under the presiding activity of the living protoplasm which directs 



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