254 MYRIOZOID^. 



SCHIZOPORELLA CRISTATA, Hincks. 



Plate XL. figs. 6, 6 a. 



SciiizopORELLA CRiSTATA*, HincJis, "On the Classification of British Poly- 

 zoa," Ann. N. H., February 1879, 157. 



Zooecia small, short-ovate, or rhomboidal, distinct, convex, 

 divided by rather deep sutures ; surface silvery, smooth, 

 or slightly furrowed, with a few punctures ; orifice sub- 

 orbicular, with a central sinus below, and five marginal 

 spines ; immediately under the lower margin a promi- 

 nent mucro, from which the elevated peristome passes 

 off on each side, forming with it a wall round a large 

 proportion of the orifice ; on the inner side of the 

 mucro a very small and delicate avicularium, with pointed 

 mandible directed straight upwards. Ooecia (propor- 

 tionally) large, subglobose, punctured, with an erect, 

 crest-like ridge running across them at the top. 



Primary cell very small, suborbicular, sides sloping steeply 

 upwards, the summit occupied by an oval area, at the 

 upper part of which is placed the semicircular orifice, 

 sinuated below ; six spines round the orifice, and three 

 on the lower border of the area. 



Habitat. On the shell of the scallop. 

 Locality. Hastings (Miss Jelly). 



I have only seen a single colony of this very beautiful 

 species, consisting of the primary and about sixteen other 

 cells, which, from their freshness, have a remarkably 

 bright, glossy, subhyaline appearance. I have no doubt 

 that with age it undergoes very considerable change in 

 supei'ficial character. 



* This species was first labelled (in MS.) nitidula, and appears under this 

 name, without description, in the List of Polyzoa published by the Natui-al- 

 History Society of Hastings and St. Leonards (1878). I have changed it, 

 that the specific designation may be founded on a permanent character, and 

 not on one which is probably fugitive. 



