Rev. T. Hincks on the Terms Polyzoa and Bryozoa. 129 



His Polyzoce were polypes exhibiting a molluscan organi- 

 zation, as distinguished from the Hydrce ; that is, they were 

 strictly a Class. 



The following passages may be added, as showing clearly 

 the sense in which Thompson used the term Polyzoa : — " The 

 other species of Sertularia in which the animals have been 

 determined to be Polyzoce may, . . . perhaps, be referred to 

 one genus." " The present Memoir has for its object to de- 

 monstrate another form of animal not hitherto known, and 

 which, while it must be allowed to belong to a new type of 

 Mollusca Acephala, resembles exteriorly in some manner the 

 Hydra ; this animal has been designated by the name 

 Polyzoa." 



In this passage both Hydra and Polyzoa are used to 

 denote types of structure, and not elements of the compound 

 organism. 



In the prospectus of the whole work, we find the following 

 as the subject of the tenth memoir : — " Animals of some 

 Cellarice, Tubuliporce } and Flustracece proved to be Polyzoa}." 

 To substitute polypid.es (in the mere sense of single zooids) 

 for Polyzoce in this sentence would be to render it perfectly 

 unmeaning. 



As to the mere form of the word, it seems to me to be a 

 point of the very smallest moment ; and Mr. Waters lays no 

 stress on it. No doubt Polyzoa? would be the proper reading, 

 if we must of necessity accept Thompson's original error in 

 the construction of the word. But it is surely allowable 

 to alter the ending, and so bring the term into harmony 

 with our present usage. In doing so we retain all that is 

 essential and we leave the honour with him to whom it is 

 justly due. 



Thompson's name, then, has every title to adoption ; and 

 I venture to think that English zoologists would be little 

 true to their duty if they were to sacrifice the claim of a 

 most able and accurate, though isolated and unobtrusive, in- 

 vestigator, because the majority have thus far failed to recog- 

 nize it. 



I trust that Mr. Waters may find reason to reconsider his 

 opinion ; he must certainly adduce some stronger arguments 

 before the " Polyzoists " will be at all likely to change 

 theirs. 



