188 Prof. AUman on the Hydroid Zoophytes, 



which, as abeady mentioned, connects the bases of the tentacles 

 in L. flexuosa. From L. geniculata it differs not only in its 

 being much branched, but in the form of the gonophores, which 

 in L. geniculata are provided with a short tubular orifice, while 

 here they have a broad truncated summit. From L. dichotoma 

 it differs in its mode of branching ; but it may be more decidedly 

 distinguished by the form of its gonophores, which in L, dicho- 

 toma open by an elevated tubular orifice, as in L. geniculata. 



The following diagnosis will serve to give, in a condensed 

 form, the leading characters of the species : — 



Laomedea Loveni, nov. sp. 



Char. — Stem alternately branched, but at irregular intervals. 

 The ultimate ramuli regularly alternate, given off at nearly equal 

 intervals from a distinct geniculation of the supporting branch, 

 which is annulated for a short distance above the origin of each 

 ramulus. The ultimate ramuli are annulated in their entire 

 length, and are nearly or fully as long as the polype-cells. 



Polype-cells deep (a little more than twice as deep as wide), 

 with an even rim. 



Gonophores tapering from a broad flat summit to a narrow 

 base, so as to present the form of an inverted cone, seated on 

 short annulated peduncles, which spring from the stem close to 

 the origin of a polypiferous ramulus. 



Polypes with from 22 to 30 tentacles, which are not united 

 at their base by a membrane. 



Reproduction by fixed sporosacs which ultimately become 

 medusiform and extra-capsular (meconidia) . 



Two distinct forms of this zoophyte must be noticed, which, 

 though very different in general appearance, cannot be specifi- 

 cally distinguished from one another. 



Var. a. Forming continuous meadow-like growths upon'fthe 

 surface of sea-weeds, &c., scarcely exceeding one inch in height. 



Var. /3. In long lax tufts, attaining a height of 3 or 4 inches. 



It appears to me that it is the var. u. of this species which 

 was originally described by Lister* under the name of Campa- 

 nularia geniculata^ and afterwards by Lovenf, and again by 

 SchultzeJ, under the same name, while I have myself § fallen 

 into the error of describing it under the name of Laomedea 

 flexuosa. It is also probably the same which Dr. Wright || has 

 described as Laomedea dichotoma. 



It is possible there may be more than one species of Laomedea 



* Phil. Trans. 1834. t Wiegmann's Archiv, 1837. 



X Miiller's Archiv, 1851. § Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb. 1858. 



11 Edinb. New Phil. Joura., Jan. 1869. 



