384 ESCHARID^:. 



Doubtful Species. 



PALMICELLARIA (?) CRIBRARIA, Johnston. 

 ESCIIARA CRIBRARIA, Johnst. B. Z. ed. 2, 352, pi. lx. figs. 7-9. 



Zoarium rising from a circular crustaceous base, erect, 

 frondose, expanding into broad undulated and sinuous 

 lobes, consisting of a double layer of cells. Zocecia 

 oval or rhomboidal, quiiicuncial, punctured ; orifice 

 (apparently) suborbicular, with a short mucro project- 

 ing in front. 



Height | inch ; breadth about the same. 



LOCALITY. Berwick Bay, 45 fathoms (Johnston). 



Alder was the first to separate this form from Mucro- 

 nella pavonella, with which Busk had identified it ; and 

 little can be said of it but that it is indubitably distinct 

 from the latter. Johnston's description and figures of it 

 are quite inadequate ; and until it occurs again and can 

 be studied afresh it is impossible to determine with any 

 certainty its affinities and systematic position. 



In the older portions of the colony the surface is said 

 to be "punctured like a thimble, with round depressed 

 holes/' and the space between them to be punctulated. 

 The mature cells are furnished with a mucro, which pro- 

 jects over the mouth. The adult orifice, judging from the 

 figure, seems to be suborbicular and somewhat elongated 

 transversely. In young cells it is described as " minute, 

 round, and generally inconspicuous." 



This species is referred provisionally to the genus Pal- 

 micelJaria. 



