2D 



HYDROIDA NOT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED 

 FOR THE DISTRICT. 



By JOYCE HILDEETH KOBSOX, B.Sc. 



Sub-Order I.— ANTHOMEDUSAE. (Gymnoblastia). 



CLAVA SQUAMATA, Muller. 



Hydra squamata, Midler, Zool. Dan. i. 3, tab. IV., figs. 1-3. 



Coryne squamata, Larnk., An. sans Vert. (2nd edit.), h\, 73. 



Clava membranacea, T. S. W rigid, Ed. New Phil. Jour, (n.s.) fur 

 July, 1857, pi. ii., figs. 2, 3. 



Clava squamata, Hincks, Brit. Hydroid Zoophytes, pi. I., fig. 2. 



Locality. — Found once only, on the beach near the Bear's 

 Back Bocks, Cullercoats, on a piece of Fucus vesiculosus washed up 

 after a storm, Oct, 2nd, 1912 (with gonophorcs). 



Geographical Distribution. — Queensferry, Firth of Forth, 

 on Fucus vesiculosus ; Lerwick, low water, on same weed ; Denmark 

 on same weed ; Plymouth. 



The appearance of this hydroid is very striking, the brilliant 

 orange-red polypites being set very closely together in moss-like 

 tufts, with the oldest individuals in the centre of the cluster. The 

 stolonic network forming the base gives rise to " runner "-like 

 shoots, which spread over the surface of the Fucus and produce 

 new clusters at short intervals. There are from 20 to 30 pellucid 

 white tentacles covering the distal one-third of the polypite, and 

 very large racemous clusters of pedunculated gonophores of a rather 

 darker red, immediately below the proximal tentacles. 



The polypite when fully extended measures about half-an- 

 inch, tapering towards the base, and presenting the form of a long 

 slender column, supporting a head which varies rapidly in shape 

 from fuse to cup ; the whole body quickly contracting to half its 

 original height when touched. 



