Polyzoa of Queen Charlotte Islands. 23 



[Plates III. & IV.] 



Lepealia (part.), Johnston. 



Lepralia hilabiata^ n. sp. (PL III. fig. 1.) 



Zocecia quincuncially arranged, short, very slightly convex, 

 the sutures little more than incised lines, rounded above 

 (where the cell-wall forms a distinct border round the orifice), 

 widening out at each side, and narrowing off towards the 

 base, which is subtruncate or pointed ; surface dense, smooth, 

 of a somewhat waxj appearance and a dark brown colour ; 

 orifice large, occupying nearly half of the front surface, rounded 

 above, slightly contracted a short distance above the lower 

 margin, which is arched outwards ; peristome unarmed, not 

 elevated ; operculum smooth, of a deep black colour, with a 

 slight rim round the edge, the inner surface attached to a bi- 

 labiate tubular passage (PL III. fig. 1 6), through which the 

 polypide issues. Avicularia none. Ooecium a subtriangular 

 extension of the cell above the orifice, very little raised, a 

 great part of its front surface occupied by a large foramen, 

 closed in by membrano-chitinous material (PL III. fig. 1 a). 



Zoarium of a very dark brown colour (ahnost black). 



Houston- Stewart Channel, on shells. 



When the zooecium is open, the orifice is occupied in great 

 part by the entrance to a tubular passage, through which the 

 polypide issues ; this entrance is bilabiate, the lower lip con- 

 sisting of a semicircular chitinous rim, as it were soldered 

 to the inner surface of the operculum ; the upper or opposed 

 lip, also chitinous, is movable, and closes upon the opercular 

 lip when the polypide retreats. 



The structure of the ovicell in this species is peculiar ; it 

 consists of a short extension of the cell upwards, tlie front 

 wall of which is much depressed, and bears a large foramen, 

 with a chitinous lid or covering. The ooecial chamber is 

 small, and the entrance to it is closed by the operculum of 

 the cell. This is a very distinct modification of the ordinary 

 form of ooecium. 



L. hilabiata is luxuriant in growth, and forms very large 

 spreading crusts. 



Lepralia claviculata, n. sp. (PL III. fig. 2.) 



Zocecia ovate or lozenge-shaped (sometimes irregular in 

 shape and size), regularly quincuncial, depressed ; surface 

 glossy, thickly covered with minute circular punctures, which 



