302 OX A NEW SPECIES OE DISTICIIOPOKA, 



from their color. Gustropores large, irregular. Dactylopores 

 small, situate on a moderately projecting, broad margin. Stjde 

 very long and spinous. Ampulla) in slightly swollen, jmle, livid 

 masses, in -which the separate cells are not easily distinguished. 



The position and character of the ampulla) renders it probable 

 that only male stocks have been seen by me since the female 

 gouangia, after the researches of Moseley are in swollen and 

 larger receptacles. At least this is true with regard to Distichopora 

 violacea, Pallas, which is the only member of the genus whose 

 soft tissues he was able to examine. It cannot be too often 

 impressed on collectors to preserve such specimens as these in 

 spirits when they are found in a living state. In reality very 

 little is known about this genus which for so long a time puzzled 

 naturalists. Mr. Moseley in his brilliant researches on the family 

 of Stylasteridce has established the connexion of Distichopora with 

 those interesting and wonderful Hydro-corallines. The mode of 

 reproduction is yet a problem. The organs have been most 

 carefully studied, but the way in which the ova are fertilized is 

 not yet known. Mr. Moseley's Croonian lecture published in the 

 Proceedings of the Royal Society for 1878 is one of the triumphs 

 of modern discovery in natural science. I hope it will not be 

 invidious for me to point out one or two slight omissions to those 

 students who may have recourse to it for reference. The species 

 of Dana, Distichopora gracilis is not mentioned (See report on 

 Zoophytes, second edit., p. 151 and Atlas pi. 60, fig. 4. &c). It 

 is also stated that Millipora violacea, Pallas, was classed by him 

 among his Madrepora, which is probably a misprint. The reference 

 to Plate 1. fig. 5. (p. 480, line four from top) is plate 35, fig. 5. 



The following is a list of the species of Distichopora common in 

 the Pacific, and all of which may occur on the coasts of Australia 

 in the tropics. Those marked with an asterisk have been already 

 found. 



^Distichopora violacea, Pallas, Elenchus Zoophytorum, first edition 

 Hague, 1766. p. 258, as a Millepora with reference to 



