PALMICELLARIA LOREA. 383 



growth more regular, than those of the last-named species. 

 The slender, flattened stem usually divides dichotomously 

 into two principal branches ; and these again divide and 

 subdivide, also dichotomously. All the branches are 

 much in the same plane, and occasionally meet and inos- 

 culate. The plan of the ramification is regular; and there 

 is a neatness of habit which is wanting in P. Skenei. 



The branches and stems are very much of the same 

 width throughout, and there is no tendency to dilatation 

 at the extremities. The surface is comparatively smooth 

 in the absence of the tall spines with which the cells 

 bristle in P. Skenei, and glossy. Mr. Norman tells me 

 (in lift.) that when "it comes up in the dredge the whole 

 zoarium is glistening and bright with prismatic colours." 



When we turn to the minute characters we are much 

 more impressed by the agreement between the two forms 

 than by the points of difference. The latter may be very 

 briefly summed up. The cells of P. lorea are somewhat 

 broader and less decidedly subcylindrical than those of 

 P. Skenei', the peris tome, though raised, is not carried 

 outwards in front, so as to project prominently, as in the 

 last; and the rostrum is blunt and short. The small 

 avicularia distributed over the zoariurn have not been 

 noticed in P. Skenei. In other respects the zooecia of the 

 two forms agree ; the history of the development is the 

 same ; the leading features are identical in both. 



In P. lorea a rostrum is occasionally developed, as in 

 the preceding species, on each side of the orifice, which 

 sometimes bears an avicularium at its base. 



There are frequently punctures round the margin of 

 the cells ; but they are apt to be obliterated by the pro- 

 gress of calcification. 



