Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IPoli/zoa. 



ported by a flexible stem. One species, A. Jbliacea, Lamx. (A. 

 foliifera^ Lamck.) is described as entire, and the other, A. grisea^ 

 Lamx. {A. c7-ibriformis, Lamck.), as criln'iform, or perforated by 

 round foramina. These two forms ought evidently to be referred to 

 distinct genera, and the latter would come under the present genus. 

 Adopting the name Dictyopora for the fenestrate species, the 

 generic name Adeona might be retained for the species with the 

 polyzoary entire. 



Since the above description was written, I have received, through 

 the coui'tesy of the author, an early copy of a valuable memoir on 

 Adeona by Dr. Kirchenpauer of Hamburg. He describes eight 

 species, and considers that one {A. intermedia) shows the transi- 

 tion between the entire and the fenestrated forms, and therefore 

 combines them all in the same genus. From an examination of his 

 description and figures, I am, however, unable to agree with him, as 

 it seems to me that the fenestrae of A. intermedia are merely formed 

 by the accidental and irregular overlajjping and coalescence of the 

 branches, and that the structure is essentially different from what 

 occurs in the regularly fenestrate species. A similar irregular 

 inosculation occasionally takes place in Eschara, and is shown in 

 E. platalea., plate 48, fig. 4, of the present Decade. 



Mr. J. B. Wilson has recently presented to the Museum spe- 

 cimens of D. {Adeona) grisea, and another species which seems 

 to be identical with Kirchenpauer's Adeona albida. They were 

 dredged oflf QueenscliflF, and will shortly be described and figured. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 47. — Fig. 1, specimen, natural size. Fig. la, small group of cells, magnifierl. Fig. 14, 

 two cells, more highly magnified. Fig. Ic, two old cells, denuded of ectoderm, maguified to the 

 same extent as the last figure. Fig. id, section, showing the cells arranged in a double layer. 



Fine specimens of this grand form have been presented to 

 the Museum with the above description by the discoverer, ]\Ir, 

 McGillivray. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[•38] 



