On a PterobrancMate Poly zoon from Canada. 239 



this ; at least I have seen specimens, apparently belonging 

 to G. annidatum, in which the hand is slightly granulated 

 above. 



Ooniosoma anisodon, De Haan. 



A female specimen laden with ova is in the collection, also 

 without definite locality. 



[To be continued.] 



XXIV. — On a siqjposed PterobrancMate Poly zoon from 

 Canada. By the l\ev. Thomas Hincks, B.A., F.R.S. 



Some years since, I received from my father, the late Professor 

 Hincks, of University College, Toronto, a short notice of a 

 Polyzoon which he had obtained in the neighbourhood of that 

 city, but was unable to identify with any described form. 

 Some of its characters were so remarkable and, at that time, 

 so entirely without parallel, that I could not venture (in the 

 absence of specimens) to publish an account of it or to give 

 any opinion upon it. He had no further opportunity of 

 investigating its history ; and, so far as I know, it has not 

 been noticed since by any other observer. 



Later discoveries, however, have supplied a clue to the 

 interpretation of this aberrant type, in some particulars at 

 least ; and reading my father's brief and popular diagnosis by 

 their light, we may find in it the indication of a form which, 

 though unique in some respects, has now its allies and its 

 definite place in our system. 



Under these circumstances I think it may be interesting 

 and useful to publish some account of it (however imperfect), 

 accompanied by my father's rough sketch of the polypide : it 

 may stimulate those who have the opportunity to search for 

 it, and possibly lead to its rediscovery. 



The description given of it, so far as it goes, may, I have no 

 doubt, be relied upon. Professor Hincks was not, indeed, in any 

 special way a student of the Polyzoa ; but his knowledge of 

 animal forms was extensive and accurate, and he was a prac- 

 tised and careful observer. 



In a letter bearing date December 20, 1868, he writes : — 

 " I want your assistance in respect to a freshwater Polyzoon 

 found in this neighbourhood, which I must attempt to describe 

 to you. It was found attached to a sunken boat in the river 

 Humber, which falls into Lake Ontario two or three miles 

 west of Toronto. 



