SCHIZOTHECA. 283 



of Cantire, 40 fathoms ; off the coast of Antrim, abundant 

 (Hyndman) : Belfast Bay (W. T.) : Beaufort Dyke, west 

 coast of Scotland, 110-145 fathoms (Capt. Beechey) : 

 Shetland, 80-110 fathoms; Hebrides (A. M. N.) : Peter- 

 head, a single specimen (C. W. P.). This species has a 

 very hmited range in our seas, being almost confined to 

 the western coasts and Shetland so far as our present 

 knowledge goes. 



Geographical Distribution. Madeira (J. Y. J.) : 

 South Africa, var. ensiformis (Miss Jelly) : oflF the coast 

 of Florida, var. porosa (Pourtales) : ?Red Sea (R. S. 

 Ncvvall). 



Genus SCHIZOTHECA, Hincks. 



Der. From ffxiW, to divide, and 6i]icn, a receptacle. 



Lepkalia (part.), auctt. 



ScHizoTiiECA, Hincks, Ann. N. H. Dec. 1877. 



Generic Character. — Zocecia ivith a suborbicular 

 primary orifice, the lower margin sinuated ; the secondary 

 orifice raised, tubular, notched i?i fro7it. Ocecium terminal, 

 ivith a fissure in the front wall. Zoarium (in British spe- 

 cies) adnate. 



This genus agrees with the rest of the Myriozoidse in 

 having a sinus on the lower lip of the primary opening ; 

 but in the adult cell this character is completely concealed 

 by the growth of an elevated, tubular, secondary orifice, 

 which in the British species is more or less notched in 

 front, and carries a number of very tall marginal spines. 

 There is a total absence of the punctures in the cell-wall, 

 which are so general amongst the Schizoporellae ; and the 

 ovicell exhibits a peculiarity in its fissured front surface 

 which is only met with elsewhere amongst the Retepoi'cB. 



