206 ERNEST WARREN. 



are also somewhat analogous to the phenomena which occur 

 in Leu conostc. 



The central bodies are too small, and apparently structure- 

 less to be regarded as unicellular alg£e of the nature of Gleo- 

 capsa, and besides the character of the capsule is not the 

 same. 



Certain bacteria form capsules, and perhaps in the present 

 case in extracting their nourishment from the fluids of the 

 hydroid the central bodies form the capsules as a by-product, 

 which is not very dissimilar in nature from the mesoglea. 



On the other hand, it should be noticed that in the forma- 

 tion of the so-called spores the whole of the inside of the 

 capsule is dissolved, and only the outer compact envelopes 

 remain. It would, therefore, be more reasonable to regard 

 the inner substance of the capsule as reserve food-material 

 Avhich is utilised in the reproductive stage when the spores 

 are formed. It is scarcely conceivable that the relatively 

 huge capsule should be formed merely in connection Avith the 

 vegetative growth of the minute central bodies. This hypo- 

 thesis is rendered somewhat more probable in that the 

 reproductive processes take place when the gonophores are 

 dehiscing and losing their vital activity. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES XXXIII AND XXXIV, 



Illustrating Dr. Ernest Warren's paper '^' On Parawrightia 

 robusta gen. et sp. nov., a Hydroid from, the Natal Coast; 

 and also an Account of a supposed Schizophyte occurring 

 in the Gonophores." 



Fig. 1. — Natural size. Colony growing- over sponge and sea- weed. 



Fig. 2. — x 15 diameters. A small piece of a female colony attached 

 to sea-weed. The bydrantlis are shown in different conditions of 

 expansion and contraction (ex. p. ; p. el. ; c. j3.). The attachment of the 

 stolon to its siii)port is assisted by clinging branches (cl. r.). The 

 planulse have escaped from the empty gonopliore (em. g.). 



Fig. 3. — X 60. Longitudinal section through hydranth and female 



