Note on Stvderia mirnUlis. By Prof. J. A. Thomson. 12?. 



Nidaliopsis, and lliat the nearest related form is Organidus. The 

 armature of the pulyps in Nidalia, \ii^ unhranclied hahit, and many 

 other features sepaiate it lar from Pai-a/ci/oiiiKin, and (Icrsemia, to 

 which, as Kiilventhal has shown, Organidns must he referred, is 

 equally remote. 



We have not as yet heen able to jiiocure a specimen of Fauci- 

 cularia for examination, and we would not tlierefore dogniaticallv 

 exclude the possiliijity that F/tseiruldtia, Paralci/onimii, and 

 Stiii/eria form a series shDwiiiu the i)ro<;ressive dinerentiation nf a 

 rigid basilar portion into which the rest of tlie eolmiy can be 

 retracted. The descrijitions given by jMotz-Kossowska and Fage 

 are very precise, and tlieir discussion of the possible relatioushijjs 

 is admirable ; what surprises us is tliat in s])ite of the dilferences 

 whicli tliey indicate lietween Fa.scici(Uiria and Paralci/onlum, they 

 should ]iropose tci include tlie two in one family. From tlieii- 

 descriptions, as from Mgitier's, it apjiears tn us that Fascicular ia is 

 more nearly related to tyyinpodium than to Pai-alci/onium ; that it 

 differs from Paralci/onium too markedly (in the structure of the 

 basilar portion and in tlie relations of tlie polyps to this and to 

 one another) to allow I if their being included in one familv ; and 

 tliat neither is nearly relaterl to Studeriu. 



Th'iif/nosis of Sludcria. — A colony consisting of a strong densely 

 spiculose cup, within which very numerous linger-like polyp- 

 beariug lobes or branches are retracted ; these arise at diffei'ent 

 levels from a strong muscular central thalamus, and IVomtlie uppei- 

 parts of the inner wall of the cu]); each (inger-like lobe is tliickly 

 covered with polyjis and ends in a poly]i larger than the rest ; the 

 cavities of tlu^ polyps communicate with a central canal in the 

 digitiform lobe, and tliese central canals unite in a few large 

 longitudinal canals with few spicules in their walls ; the jiolyps 

 have a distinct non-retractile calyx or verruca, cnvcred with .spindles 

 arranged in double rows ; the spicules are all spindles, exce])t a 

 few minute irregular forms found (along witli sparse spindles) in 

 the canal walls; many of the cortical spindles attain liuge dimen- 

 sions (over mm.): many are sinuous and forked ; almost all are 

 very warty, and there is a characteristic arrangement of the warts in 

 transverse rows. 



Our general conclusion, which is based on a single specimen, 

 of which we had to be careful, is tluxt we have to do with a verv 

 distinct genus, related to ranilci/oniiini, but not very closely ; 

 perhaps connected through forms like Nidalia with other Alcyo- 

 niidie ; but more ]irobalily deserving, as Professor Verrill suggested 

 to us, the estabhshmeut of a new family. 



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