LOXOSOMA. 371 



transversely, wliich may be called the pedal body. It projects on 

 the ventral surface of the bud, and, seen in profile, seems to be 

 divided into two halves, separated by a transparent space, and 

 has much the appearance of a gland. The projection has the 

 form of a large nipple, and is situated, as has been mentioned, 

 on the ventral surface. Now, if the present species resembled 

 L. Kefersteini, this projection would be the point by which the 

 bud would be attached to the parent ; but this is not the case ; 

 the bud is actually attached by the extremity of its axis, and in 

 this terminal portion of it occurs the analogue of the pedal gland, 

 which in some species is permanent, but in L. Kefersteini, as 

 well as in the present form, disappears entirely after its detach- 

 ment. 



This pedal gland is very distinctly visible in the buds, and at 

 an early stage ; but in the youngest polypides examined, all trace 

 of it, as well as of the pedal body, had disappeared ; the stem 

 had become longer and more slender, and was provided with its 

 connective tissue and muscular fibres. The Author concludes, 

 from the observations he has made, though imperfect, that the 

 connective tissue is formed at the expense of the pedal body, and 

 that the bud attaches itself by the extremity by which it was in 

 communication with the parent. The pedal gland seems to be 

 absorbed after furnishing the secretion by which the animal is 

 permanently fixed. 



General Remarks. 



The author proceeds to consider the systematic position of 

 Loxosoma. Schmidt would separate it from the Polyzoa, but 

 finds no very decisive indications of its true position. All 

 the other writers who have studied it — Claparede, Keferstein, 

 Kowalewsky, Leuckart — are agreed in placing it amongst the 

 Polyzoa. Nitsche, whilst admitting that its systematic place is 

 open to discussion, unites it with Pedicellina, and includes the 

 two genera in a distinct family of Folyzoa, the Entoprocta, cha- 

 racterised by the position of the anus tvithin the tentacular ring. 

 The latter author lays down the following propositions : 



1. An individual Loxosoma exhibits exactly the same con- 

 formation as an individual Pedicellina in all essential points, 



%. The genus Loxosoma differs from the genus Pedicellina in 

 the following secondary characters : 



a. The Loxosomas are isolated individuals, whilst the Pedicel- 

 lina form colonies. 



b. The stem of Loxosoma is less distinctly separated from the 

 body than that of Pedicellina}. in which a diaphragm divides the 

 two regions. 



' There are differences in this respect amongst the Loxosomas. In a 

 species procured off the coast of Spain by the Porcupine Expedition, for 



VOL. XVII. NEW SEll. B B 



