250 " ENDEAVOUR " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



further than he describes them, and as the produced portion^ 

 continues in a uniform curve it follows that the aperture is 

 directed outward instead of upward ; I have even seen in- 

 stances where a still further prolongation results in the 

 aperture looking somewhat downward. In these cases the 

 extension of the hydrotheca is due to the necessity of keeping 

 the aperture free when surrounded by a very dense fascicula- 

 tion. 



The gonangia (which have not previously been observed) 

 are borne along the stem or the main branches, often in a 

 longitudinal series and sometimes on both sides. They are 

 adnate in their entire length, and may even overlap. Their 

 length much exceeds their width, average specimens reaching 

 about 2.2 mm., with a diameter of only about .3 mm. The 

 summit is arched over, and the sub-terminal orifice, which is 

 directed outward, is transversely elliptical. Occasionally the 

 arched top is continued in a uniform curve, so that the 

 aperture looks downward. Being adnate to the hydrocaulus 

 they follow its direction, so that if, for example, they meet 

 with a branch in the course of their growth they continue 

 along it, and are accordingly bent at nearly a right angle. In 

 some instances they are in an inverted position. The fascicle- 

 tubes run over them, and often envelop them completely, 

 except the aperture, and in the " Endeavour " specimens the 

 stolons of the Lafoea cover them with a tortuous network, 

 often of more than one layer. 



Six or seven gonozooids were observed, in each case only 

 one in a gonangium. From the base of the capsule rises the 

 blastostyle, which bears the gonozooid on one side at a short 

 distance up, and is then continued in the form of a very 

 slender cord till it nears the orifice, where it gradually expands 

 into the conical plug usually found in that position. The 

 gonozooid is very small relatively to the size of the gonangium, 

 none of those seen attaining more than about .45 mm. in 

 length. The two or three which were in the best condition 

 for examination appeared to have four longitudinal radial 

 canals, and a four-lobed orifice. 



I have not observed the large round openings said by 

 Ritchie to exist between the fascicle-tubes, but round openings 

 are common in the " Endeavour " specimens ; these, how- 

 ever, are superficial, and consist of the bases of Lafoea hydro- 

 thecse which have been broken off. It is just possible that 

 Ritchie's specimens may have been invested by Zcr/oea -stolons 

 from which the hydrothecse had been lost ; this would account 

 for the round openings as well as for the dark colour. No one 



