24 



HUGH PRICE. 



which may tend to explain the facts observed in the 

 naturally" produced specimens of the same kind. 



As to the first question, it would appear from the fact 

 that Cordylophora has been attentively studied by two ex- 

 cellent observers. Prof. Allman and Prof. Eilhard Schultze, 

 Pig. 1. 



who have not recorded the existence of polystomatous hy- 

 dranths, that their occurrence must be exceptional. On 

 the other hand, they were not uncommon on a particular 

 mass of the Cordylophora colony, though they were not 

 found on all colonies gathered with this mass — and have 

 not been previously seen by Prof. Lankester in specimens 

 taken at the same season from the same locality. 



As to the second question, I endeavoured to obtain a 

 definite answer. I isolated some fragments of the colony 

 bearing each a single polystomatous hydranth. Unfortunately 

 I was not able to follow these specimens with sufficient 

 care, but it appeared after a few days that the polystoma- 

 tous hydranths had disappeared, not only in the isolated 

 specimens, but in those still living in the general aquarium 

 containing the mass of the specimens. Prom this it may be 

 concluded that the polystomatous hydranths had proceeded 

 to develop in some way or other. The opinion that the 

 supernumerary oral cones are but a transitory stage in an 

 exceptional mode of development is borne out by a com- 

 parison of Figs. 1 and 2, in the latter of which the cones 

 are relatively larger than in Pig. 1, and have, furtherj a 



