256 Transactions. — Zoology. 



first to leave the Domain and the last to return. They are 

 expert divers, and readily dive when molested by other ducks. 



Fuligula novse-zealandiae, Steph. (New Zealand Scaup). 



A few pairs of this sociable little duck inhabit the lakes 

 here every winter. They associate with the mallards and 

 domestic ducks, and when resting leisurely on the water's 

 edge permit visitors to approach them very closely. They are 

 gentle and slow in their habits, and at all times are beautiful 

 objects when seen consorting peacefully with the other ducks 

 inhabiting the lakes. 



Art. XIX. — On Virgularia gracillima in Lyttelton Harbour. 



By Arthur Dendy, D.Sc, F.L.S., Professor of Biology in 

 the Canterbury College, University of New Zealand. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Cantcrbiiry, 6th May, 



1896.] 



On 22nd March, 1896, when dredging in the Lyttelton Har- 

 bour from the yacht of my colleague Professor Scott, we 

 obtained about a dozen specimens of a small Virgularia from 

 a shallow bottom of very soft tenacious mud. The species 

 proved on examination to be Koelliker's Virgularia gracillima,'^'- 

 of which a single fragment only was obtained by the " Chal- 

 lenger " in Queen Charlotte Sound, and which has not since 

 been recorded. 



As this is an exceptionally interesting species, and so far 

 very imperfectly known, it may be desirable to quote Koelli- 

 ker's original description before adding my own supplementary 

 notes. The description runs as follows : — 



" Virgularia gracillima, n. sp. (pi. iii., fig. 11). 



" A fragment of a Virgularia may be so named pro- 

 visionally, as it seems to differ from all known species. 



"Pinnules very small, about 0-85mm. high, and 1-lmm. 

 distant from each other. 



" Polyps four on each pinnule, without well-marked cells. 



" Ehachis small, with a breadth of 0'48 to 0-51mm. in the 

 middle part, and of 0-62 in the region of the undeveloped 

 pinnules. 



" Zooids— (?). 



" Axis round, yellow, 0-4:2mm., large in the lowest part of 



* "Challenger; Pennatulida," p. 10, pi. iii., fig. 11. 



