62 FRESH-WATER POLYZOA FOUND IN NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CHESTER. 
company with Cordylophora lacustris and a host of microscopic 
organisms. I again found it there. early in March this year 
(1878) when it had the appearance described (as below) by 
Van Bryepen, but which Pror. AtLMAN had not witnessed in 
any specimens found in Great Britain. 
“Van BEneveEN thus describes the occurrence of ‘hybernacula’ 
or gemme, which, under the influence of a favourable tem- 
perature, would have grown into the ordinary lateral branches 
of the Polyzoon, but which, towards the commencement of 
winter, acquire a conical form, and then become for a while 
arrested in their development. In this state they remain until 
the following spring, when the investing membrane splits to 
allow of the elongation of the branch.” 
No Statoblasts having been observed in Paludicella, it 
appears highly probable that their place is supplied by the 
Hybernacula, thus described by Van BrnepEn. 
Late in October, 1878, I found some living colonies of this 
species in the Canal, near to Backford Bridge. 
If Cristatella is (as it deserves to be called) the Queen of 
Polyzoa, this form, as an infant in comparison, although quite 
unlike it in form, may with propriety be named The Princess, 
as, from its coy shyness, its delicacy of texture, its beauty of 
form, its quick playful habits, and its well-marked distinction 
from all the other species, entitle it, I think, to the second rank. 
Those only who have patience to thoroughly watch its habits, 
can at all appreciate its beauty and loveliness. Pror. ALLMAN 
well describes it as an exceedingly timid little animal, and a 
specimen may be for hours under observation before the poly- 
pides will venture to issue from their cells, and then it is often 
for only a few seconds at a time that they will continue visible. 
Those who may take an interest in this branch of Natural 
History, will find all the species here named, with many others, 
beautifully described and illustrated by Pror. ALLM4N, in his 
“Monograph of the Fresh-Water Polyzoa,” published by the 
Ray Society. 
