ulrich-bassler] revision of paleozoic bryozoa 277 



Having no specimens of this species, we can do no better than to 

 repubhsh the following original description and remarks by Nicholson 

 and Etheridge, Jr. (loc. cit.) : 



" Spec. char. Colony composed of elongated vesicles, broad at 

 their bases, thickened out in the middle of their length, and gradually 

 attenuated towards their extremities, disposed in stellate clusters or 

 rosettes. The bases of the tongue-like or somewhat fusiform vesicles 

 are placed round a central circular depression ; and their length 

 varies from a sixth to more than a fourth of a line. Each rosette 

 consists of from ten (sometimes fewer) to fifteen or twenty vesicles ; 

 and the free surface of each carries a single median row of ex- 

 cessively minute, somewhat slit-like, closely approximated pores. 

 The rosettes are connected together by delicate creeping filaments, 

 which may spring from the bases of the rosettes or from the atten- 

 uated extremities of the vesicles, and which generally anastomose, so 

 as to form a network or mycelium. 



'' Ohs. In its general structure and arrangement this species is 

 related to A. stcllatuin, though sharply distinguished by the very 

 elongated form of the vesicles and the presence of but a single row of 

 pores on each. All the rosettes, when well preserved, show a cir- 

 cular central cavity or depression, with a distinct bounding wall ; but 

 we have been unable to make out the true nature of this, or its rela- 

 tion to the vesicles. When the vesicles are very numerous, they are 

 smaller in size than when the rosette consists of fewer ; but in all cases 

 each shows a dark median line, which, when highly magnified, re- 

 solves itself into a line of minute close-set pores. The stolons may 

 ramify and form a network ; or a single stolon, proceeding directly 

 from the end of a vesicle in one rosette, may be prolonged at once 

 into the attenuated termination of a vesicle belonging to another 

 rosette. Weathered specimens show clearly that the vesicles are 

 traversed by a long tubular cavity, corresponding in form with the 

 shape of these structures themselves ; and they sometimes show what 

 appear to be apertures at their bases. The stolons also are, doubtless, 

 tubular, and they probably carry a median row of pores on their free 

 faces, though we have not been able to determine either of these 

 points to our satisfaction." 



Judging principally from the published figures, of which we present 

 tracings reduced one-third, this remarkable species cannot remain 

 in the genus Ascodictyon as restricted by us. As remarked under 

 the preceding generic description, the species is nearer Vinella than 

 Ascodictyon, and it is here that we propose to place the species until 

 its reexamination proves it to belong elsewhere. So far as its char- 



