Zoology. ,] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. {Vohjzoa. 



Plate 116, Fig. 1. 



BEANIA MIRABILIS (Johnston). 



[Genus BEANIA (Johnston). (Sub-kingd. Mollusca. Class Polyzoa. Order Infun- 

 dibulata. Sub-order Cheilostoniata. Family Bicellariidae.) 



Gen. Char. — Zoarium creeping or loosely adnate. Zooecia disjunct, connected by (usually) 

 corneous tubes, erect or decumbent, ovate or boat-sbaped, entirely open in front and filled in by 

 a membrane. Usually one or two capitate pedunculate avicularia, perfect, aborted or altered 

 in form.] 



Description. — Zoarium sub-erect or decumbent. Zooecia erect, connected by 

 long', filiform tubes springing- from their bases ; each cell boat-shaped, with a thick- 

 ened rim, two sharp spines superiorly and 7-10 sub-marginal, incurved spines or 

 costce on each side, the uppermost of which is stouter than the others. 



References. — Busk, Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., Pt. i, p. 32, pi. xxiv., Figs. 

 4, 5 ; Hincks, Brit. Mar. Polyzoa, p. 96, pi. iv. ; Figs. 8-10. 



Port Phillip Heads, Mr. J. B. Wilson. 



This exceedingly beautiful and interesting species, for the dis- 

 covery of which in Australia we are indebted to Mr. J. B. Wilson, 

 differs in no respect from the well-known European form. The 

 figured specimen occurs on a small piece of sea-weed. The zooecia 

 are boat-shaped, of a beautiful silvery appearance, and connected 

 by long delicate tubes attached to their bases. The superior 

 thicker spine seems to me to be evidently the homologue of the 

 frequently-modified avicularium in the Diachoridan species. 



Explanation op Figures. 



Plate 116. — Fig. 1, portion of zoarium, magnified. Fig. la, single cell, more bighly 

 magnified. 



Plate 116, Figs. 2 and 4. 



MUCRONELLA TRICUSPIS (Hincks). 



[Genus MUCRONELLA (Hincks). (Sub-kingd. Mollusca. Class Polyzoa. Order In- 

 fundibulata. Sub-ord. Cheilostomata. Fam. Escharidae.) 



Gen. Char. — Zoarium crustaceous or erect and uni- or bi-laminate. Zooecia ■with a sub- 

 orbicular or semicircular orifice, the peristome of which is elevated into a more or less promi- 

 nent inferior mucro.] 



Description. — Zoarium encrusting*. Zooecia distinct, convex; primary mouth 

 semicircular, with 3 or 4 long 1 spines superiorly; secondary mouth with a pouch-like 

 projection of the peristome below, the middle part forming' a broad mucro and on each 

 side produced into a sharp process. A raised avicularium on each side of the zocecium 

 below the mouth, with the long-, pointed mandible directed outwards, and projecting- 



Vol. II.— Decade XII.— 1. ' 63 ] 



