[Proc. Rot. Soc. Victoria, 23 (N.S.), Pt. I., 1910.] 



03 A> 



Art. I.— On the Groivth and Habits of Bipofsk^^ jp ?A' 



By C. M. MAPLESTONE. 



(With Plate I., Figs. 1 and 2). 

 [Kead 10th March, 1910.] 



In the collection of Polyzoa, dredged by H.M.C.S. "Miner" 

 from a depth of 80 fathoms, about 22 miles outside Sydney 

 Heads, which was submitted to me by Professor Haswell for 

 examination and report, the most interesting were some coni- 

 cal forms of BijMjrae, of which three were new species, and a 

 scrutiny of them shewed that they, in common with previously 

 known species, differed considerably from other polyzoa in many 

 points, especially in the arrangement of the individual zooecia 

 composing a zoarium, their method of gro^vth and the attitude 

 of the zoaria when living. 



Mv observations, however, point to very different conclusions 

 from those expressed in a paper by Mr. Whitelegge in the Pr.L.S. 

 N. S. Wales, 1887, page 387, et seq. ; 'in which he established 

 the genus Blpora, and included in it the following species : — 

 Lunulites philippinensis, Busk; L. ninreUata, Busk; L. angu- 

 lopora, Ten. Woods; L. iiicisa, Hincks ; Cupuhirid rrassa, Ten. 

 Woods; ConeschareJJina depresnd, Haswell: '". roiiira. Has- 

 well ; Eschara uitihoiiafa. Haswell : and F/i/hr/Iij/iora clegans, 

 D'Orbigny ; they being, he says, " a most distinct group having 

 little in common with those with which they have been asso- 

 ciated except habit and form." This last statement I must 

 question, because as to their " habit " it will be seen from what 

 follows that it is far from being known or understood, and as 

 to their " form," the forms not only of the zoaria but also of 

 the zooecia are so very different that I do not think they can 

 possibly be assigned to any one genus, and the inclusion of 

 them under the name of Bipura only adds to the perplexity 

 that already exists in respect to them ; I am not at present 

 in a position to discuss this portion of the subject with certi- 

 tude, but on a future occasion I may be able to offer a more 



