8 HiCKSON, Specimen of Osteocella septentrionalis {Gray). 



pinnae, but large ova are found in the autozooids of fully 

 formed pinnae up to the base of the uppermost " piece " 

 in my series. Being unwilling to dissect the extreme tip 

 of this specimen, I cannot say whether or not they extend 

 the whole length of the rachis, but it is a fact that the 

 autozooids at a distance of lOO mm. from the top are 

 " fertile." 



This is an important point in determining the system- 

 atic position of our specimen, because in Virgnlaria the 

 reproductive organs are "confined to the lower part of 

 the rachis, and only occur in that part of it in which the 

 polypes are either absent or very immature (Marshall)"; 

 whereas in Pavonaria, " Geschlechtsorgane in den Blattern 

 mit entwickelten Polypen " (Kolliker (8)). 



The generic name Osteocella is first mentioned in 

 Gray's Catalogue of Sea-pens published in 1870. The 

 type specimen consisted of the axis only, and was sent 

 to the British Museum by Mr. G. Clifton. 



In 1872, Gray (3) published a further description of 

 this axis of O. cliftoni, and added another species based 

 on an axis sent by the Hudson Bay Company to which 

 the name O. septentrionalis was given. 



The locality of the O. cliftoni was, in the first instance, 

 given as " probably Australia," but on the second com- 

 munication it was stated more definitely, but without any 

 assigned reason, to be W. Australia. 



In an additional note (4) on Osteocella septentrionalis, 

 also published in 1872, Dr. Gray says that he was 

 informed by Dr. Glinther that it was often found in 

 Buzzard inlet, near New Westminster, British Columbia. 

 " Buzzard" is probably a mistake, as the only inlet in this 

 region marked in the maps is named " Burrard." The 

 axis of O. cliftoni was 1 1 inches in length, and that of 

 O. septentrionalis 64 inches in length. Verrill expressed 



