662 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 14 



species which he discussed, R. neocomiensis, does not appear to belong 

 to the genus, and his fourth species, R. ramosa d'Orbigny, 1853:754, 

 has been selected as the genotype of Reptotubigera. Since there must 

 always be uncertainty when based only on zoarial characters, Canu and 

 Bassler erected the genus Platonea with the description of the ovicell 

 and ooeciostome and with Reptotubigera philippsae Harmer as the geno- 

 type. The ovicell is broadly lobed between the fascicles and extends to 

 the borders of the zoarium on both sides and the ooeciostome is short, 

 erect, more or less expanded and is located proximal to the first peristome 

 of a fascicle and separated from it. 



If we are to accept this type of ovicell as distinctive of the genus, the 

 zoarial description must be modified to include several species which are 

 only partly adnate or semierect, but which have the special characters 

 of a broad ovicell extending between the fascicles and an ooeciostome 

 which is short, isolated and located near a first peristome of a fascicle. 

 This last character, however, is shared by some species of Tubulipora. 

 Also the marginal basal lamina, which is characteristic of the adnate 

 species, is wanting in the suberect species. 



As with many of the Tubuliporidae it is difficult to draw sharp dis- 

 tinctions in all cases but, dismissing the other characters, the idmoneiform 

 arrangement of the fascicles and the nature of the ovicell and ooeciostome, 

 together present a very characteristic facies sufficient to give this group 

 a distinct place among the genera of the Tubuliporidae. 



While it is possible that some of the fossil species included by 

 d'Orbigny under Reptotubigera will be found to agree with Platonea, 

 there is no indication in his description or figures of an ovicell and all 

 of his figures represent the peristomes as short and non-connate. I am 

 therefore following Canu and Bassler in the use of Platonea for species 

 in which the reproductive characters are present. 



Platonea veleronis new species 

 Plate 69, fig. 2 



Zoaria adnate, apparently attached to algae; usually consist of a 

 single lobe but occasionally a single branch occurs; maximum length 

 5 mm, width 1.5 to 2 mm; the dorsal side not expanded beyond the 

 lateral peristomes. The peristomes are arranged in series of 4 to 7, 

 closely connate, except for one or two at the outer ends of the series ; 

 the aperture more or less quadrangular, measuring about 0.09 mm wide 

 by 0.12 mm long. At the proximal end the peristomes are single or in 

 short series. The fascicles are high, 0.50 to 0.70 mm, very regular, 

 usually alternating on the opposite sides of the midline, the interspaces 

 averaging about 0.35 mm in width. 



