276 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



nuclei, separated from one another by intervals filled with 

 granular protoplasm ; these are not arranged in a single layer. 

 The nuclei appear as completely homogeneous masses of chromatin 

 of somewhat irregular shape ; in several cases phases of direct 

 division are observable. Around the whole of the nuclei of each 

 capsule is a thick ayer of granular protoplasm. The outer 

 boundary of each zooid is quite sharply defined, but, if a capsular 

 membrane is present, it is not distinguishable, and must be 

 extremely delicate. Pseudopodial matrix and pseudopodia are 

 not to be made out. There is a single spherical oil-globule in each 

 zooid. About 12-15 Xauthellce are closely applied to each zooid, 

 and there are also many in the intermediate spaces. The zooids 

 are about "07 mm. in diameter ; the nuclei about '01. 



So far there is nothing to distinguish this form from an early 

 vegetative phase of one of the C. inerme group. But, scattered 

 over the surface of the colony, are some fifty bodies which differ 

 entirely from the ordinary zooids. These are rounded masses of 

 granular matter most of which are of about the size of the zooids, 

 while a few are slightly larger, and some are considerably smaller. 

 These are all superficial in position, superficial to all the zooids 

 and to all the XanthelUe, most of them projecting on the surface, 

 and some being covered externally only by a very thin layer of 

 the gelatinous matrix. 



In this, as well as in the other colonial f oi'ms to be subsequently 

 referred to in which they occur, these bodies are rendered conspi- 

 cuous in my preparations owing to their not being affected by the 

 staining agent used (paracarmine), and, in the cleared specimens, 

 appearing very bright and yellowish in colour. When one of 

 them was removed, and, after being returned to alcohol, acted on 

 with ha^matoxylin, a distinct staining effect was produced, certain 

 granules in the mass becoming more strongly effected than the 

 rest. Owing, probably, to the condition of the material, the com- 

 ponent parts of these granular masses could not be definitely 

 isolated. But I have little doubt from their mode of occurrence 

 that we have here to do with masses of microspores of small size. 

 In Brandt's classical monograph microspores and megaspores are 

 stated to be developed in the same zooid in Collozonni and in 

 Sphaerozoum, and the allied genera, but, if the above view should 

 be fully confirmed, this, if it is a rule, is subject to some excep- 

 tions. This, however, is a question which can only be definitely 

 settled with the aid of living material. 



COLLOZOUM (beta). 



(Plate liii., fig. 5). 

 Another form of this C. inerme group is worth referring to 



