298 WRICHTIA. 



ment; perisauc spirally corrugated at the origin of the ultimate ramuli, and rendered 

 opaque throughout by the accumulation in it of earthy particles and siliceous 

 sand. Hyduanths with about sixteen tentacles, which are usually held with 

 the alternate ones elevated and depressed in extension ; the perisarc continued over 

 each tentacle for somewhat more than a third of its length, as well as over the 

 greater part of the hypostome, on which it terminates abruptly at a short distance 

 from the mouth. 



GONOSOME. — Sporosacs (male)^ oval, with a ramified spadix, pedunculated, 

 arising alternately along the length of the ultimate ramuli ; perisarc extended over 

 the entire peduncle and sporosac, spirally corrugated on the peduncle. 



Colour. — The entire liydroid is of a dull brown colour. 

 Development of Gonosome. — June. 



//«(5(V«i^.— Attached to other hydroids, seaweeds, &c., near low-water spring tides. 

 Bathjmetrical distribution. — Larainarian zone. 



Localities. — Firth of Forth; Dr. Strethill Wright and G. J. A. Morecambe Bay, Lanca- 

 shire; G. J. A. Coasts of Yorkshire and of South Devon ; Mr. Hincks. 



Bimeria vestifa is rendered very remarkable by its faculty of excreting chitine from its surface 

 to an extent unknown in any other hydroid. The chitinous sheaths which invest the bases of the 

 tentacles confer upon the hydranths a very singular aspect, suggesting the idea of a half-gloved 

 hand. The gonosome is completely covered, so that the only naked parts of the hydrosome are 

 the terminal portions of the tentacles, and the hypostome for a short distance just below the 

 mouth. 



WRIGHTIA, Allman. 



iVftwe.— After Dr. T. StielMl Wriijhl. 



ATitACTYLis, — Wright. 



TROPHOSOME. — Hydrophtton consisting of a hydrocaulus in the form of 

 simple funnel-shaped stems, developed at intervals from a creeping filiform hydro- 

 RHiZA, the whole invested with a conspicuous chitinous perisarc. Hydranths 

 retractile, fusiform, with filiform tentacles in a single circlet surrounding a conical 

 hypostome. 



1 1 have not vet had an opportunity of examining the female gonopliores. 



