I92I.] 



A. Robertson : Report on Bryozoa. 



37 



10. Diploecium simplex, Kirkpatrick. 



Diplirciinn simplex KirUpatrick, iS8S, ser. 6, vol. i, p. 73, pi. vii, fig. i. 

 Zoarium consisting of many branches composed of relatively 

 short internodes, the whole forming bushy tufts 25 or 30 mm. 

 in height. Internodes separated by 

 chitinous joints which form in place 

 of the two distal zooecia of the in- 

 ternode, and consisting commonly 

 of eight zooecia although varying 

 in number from four to twelve. 

 Branching dichotomous. Zocecia 

 arranged in pairs, back to back, each 

 pair at right angles to the preced- 

 ing pair (Fig. i) ; tubular, some- 

 what wider in the middle. Zocecial 

 wall delicately calcareous, and regu- 

 larly porous. Orifices rounded above 

 with a sinus on the lower margin. 

 Ooecia porous, somewhat flattened, 

 ilosed b}^ the operculum ; lower 

 margin curved so that the orifice of 

 the fertile zooecium is larger than 

 that of an ordinary zooecium. In 

 older parts of the colony the rim 

 of the ooecia is somewhat thickened, 

 due probabl}' to increased calcifica- 

 tion. 



The species here identified differs 

 slightly from that described by 

 Kirkpatrick, notably in the greater 

 size of internodes and in the shape 

 of the ooecio-zooecial orifice. The 

 latter is thought to be an import- 

 ant difference, perhaps of specific 

 value. For the present, however, 



these differences will be considered mere variations of the original 

 species. This species is a puzzling one and it is doubtful, as Kirk- 

 patrick remarks, just where it belongs in the present classifica- 

 tion of the bryozoa. 



Obtained at station 47, off mouth of Godaveri R., 5-6 fathoms. 

 Probably dredged or taken in tangles, judging from the condition 

 of the material. Miss Thornely reports this species from the 

 Andamans at 17 fathoms. 



FiG. 1- 



Diplceciiiin simplex Kirk. 

 X 40. 



II. Bugula neritina, Linnaeus. 



Bugula nevitina, Waters, 1909, p. 135. pi. xi, figs. 1-3. 

 Abundant in Madras Harbour, often growing in large masses with 

 hydroids and other bryozoa ; in one instance entangled in Zoobo- 

 tryon pellucidus. Dredged at depths varying from 4 to 6 fathoms. 



