On a new Genus and Species of Hydroid Zoophyte. 227 



3. The suborder Crossopterygii of Huxley contains two di- 

 stinct types of " lobate fin," namely : — the " obtusely lobate," 

 with a transverse series of cartilaginous rods; and the " acutely 

 lobate " with an axial skeleton. Prof, Huxley has already 

 drawn attention to the similarity between the paddles of Lepido- 

 siren and the Crossopterygians ; but only the acutely " lobate " 

 type agrees with the structure of the Dipnoous limb. Poly- 

 2)terus, CoelacanthuSj &c., which are provided with fins of the 

 former type, are genera sufficiently distinguished also by 

 other characters to be placed in a separate suborder. 



XXVI. — On a new Genus and Species of Ilydroid Zoophyte 

 (Cladocoryne floccosa). By W. D. Rotch, Esq. 



Cladocoryne, nov. gen. 



Generic character. — Stem simple or branched, rooted by a 

 creeping filiform stolon, the whole sheathed in a thin chi- 

 tinous tube, smooth or very sparingly annulated. Polyjiites 

 terminal, clavate, with simple and branched capitate tenta- 

 cula ; the former set in a single row round the mouth, tlie 

 latter in several whorls round the body, and multicapitatc ; 

 with a prominent tubercle composed of thread-cells between 

 each tentacle in the anterior and in the posterior rows. 

 Reproduction unknown. 



Cladocoryne has affinity with the families of Corynidas and 

 Stauridiidffi, but is, I think, more closely allied to the former. 

 It agrees with the Stauridiida in having tentacles of two 

 kinds, and resembles Cladonema radiatum^ which has the 

 tentacles of the gonozooid branched. The stem, general form, 

 and polypite of Cladocoryne very closely resemble those of 

 Coryne and Syncoryne^ the branching of some of the tentacles 

 in Cladocoryne being the most marked point of difference. 

 The tubercles or bosses round the mouth and base of the 

 polypite mark a point of resemblance between Cladocoryne 

 and Hydranthea. 



The reproductive history of Cladocoryne is unknown ; and 

 it is consequently uncertain whether it most resembles Coryne 

 or Syncoryne. 



Its present place must be provisional ; and, until more is 

 known of its reproduction, it might be placed in the familv^ 

 Corynidffi, after the genus Zanclea, in the Rev. T. Ilincks'.^ 

 work on British Ilydroid Zoophytes. 



16* 



