VICTORELLA. 559 



who clearly pointed out the important difference in the 

 structure of the zooecium, which separates it from the 

 Vesiculariidce. I have not adopted his name for it [Homo- 

 dmtidcB), because throughout this work the family desig- 

 nations have been derived from typical genera, and it 

 seems desirable to preserve uniformity of practice. 



Genus VICTORELLA, 8aville Kent. 



Der. Named after the Victoria Dock, London, in which it was first dis- 

 covered. 



ViCTORELLA, W. Saville Kent, Quart. Journ. Micr. Sc. 1870. 



Generic Character. — Zoarium consisting of a creeping 

 ramified stem, which swells out at intervals into somewhat 

 fusiform, or clavate enlargements, in which the cells origi- 

 nate. ZocEciA decumbent at the base, which is continuous 

 ivith the stem, above free and cylindrical; branches given 

 off^ f'oi^^ l^^s sides of the expansions in the course of the 

 stem. VohYFiDEs ivithfeiv tentacles ; no gizzard. 



In the character of the zooecium Victorella agrees with 

 the Cylindroeciidcs ; but from this group it is separated 

 by the structure of the polypide, which is of the Campy- 

 lonemidan type. It is a simple and primitive form, as 

 shown by the imperfect differentiation of the cell ; and, 

 from the extreme transparency of the ectocyst, which in- 

 terposes no difficulty in the way of observation, it would 

 afford the best opportunities for the study of the struc- 

 ture and functions of the endosarc, and of many other in- 

 teresting problems. 



In an early stage of development the cell consists wholly 

 of the stolonic expansion, within which the formation of 

 the polypide proceeds up to a certain point. The erect 

 tube is an after-growth (Plate LXXIX. fig. 7). I have 



