Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IPolyzoa. 



Plate 166, Fig. 1. 



CELLEPORA VERRUCOSA (McG.). 



Description. — Zoarium expanded, adherent or partially free; surface nodulated, 

 and covered with narrowish verrucose elevations ; colour brown. Marginal zooecia 

 recumbent, elongated, smooth, distinct at the extreme margin, farther back with the 

 edges fused together ; primary mouth arched above, straight below, with two short, 

 stout, rigid spines ; subsequently the sub-oral portion of the zooecium largely pro- 

 jecting, and a long thin pre-oral rostrum becoming developed to one side of the lower 

 lip, having a deep notch at its base, with an avicularium with oval mandible mostly 

 turned inwards; in older parts of the zoarium the zooecia more vertical and confused, 

 the lower lip with a row of serrated denticles internally. Ooecia globose, not very 

 prominent. Vicarious avicularia on stout, columnar elevations, with large spatulate 

 mandibles and usually serrated beaks. 



Portland, Mr. Maplestone. 



The only specimen I have seen measures 5^ by 3 mches, and 

 is of a light brown colour. It is thick, from the superposition 

 of several layers. The surface is covered with verrucose ridges 

 and separate verrucose or mamilliform elevations. The mouth 

 of the fully formed zooecium is usually smooth and slightly 

 hollowed below, and there is internally a row of simple or serrated 

 denticles, usually obscured by the peristome. The oral rostrum 

 fi'equently has a serrated projection about half-way towards the 

 summit, probably concealing an avicularium. The vicarious 

 avicularia are of large size, usually elevated on thick columns, 

 with long, broadly ligulate or spatulate mandibles closing on 

 strongly serrated beaks. The ooecia are rounded and occasionally 

 have a conical spine, with or without an avicularium at its base, 

 on the anterior surface. 



An inspection of the figures, from different parts of the same 

 specimen, well illustrates the protean characters which may be 

 found in a single species of this difficult genus. The serrated 

 denticles inside the lower lip are usually concealed by the growth 



VOI..II.— Decade XVII.— 2 0. [ 245 ] 



