Mr. H. J. Carter on the Antipatharia. 301 



of matrix adhering to it, which render identification difficult. 

 Prof, de Koninck states that the surface is ornamented with 

 fine and irregular stride of growth, which on the keel of each 

 whorl are bent backwards, indicating the presence of a sinus 

 in the outer lip. The striae are not preserved in our speci- 

 men ; but the keel is well exposed, and forms quite a projecting 

 rim along the periphery of each whorl. In all probability it 

 is either a Murchisonia or Pleurotomaria, perhaps the former, 

 as it cannot in any way be considered congeneric with such 

 forms as Natica elliptica, N. elongata, &c. It is the 



Natica tabtdata, Phillips, as above. 



Ampullacera tabulata, De Koninck, Animaux Foss. p. 488, t. 42. 

 fig. 4, a, b. 



XXXVI. — On the Antipatharia (Milne Edwards), with refer- 

 ence to Hydradendrium spinosum. By H. J. Gartee, 

 F.R.S. &c. 



In a late communication from the Rev. A. M. Norman, a 

 very significant and proper question is put to me, viz. : — " Your 

 Hydradrendrium (Ann. 1880, vol. v. p. 454, pi. xix. fig. 8 &c.) 

 — have you compared this with Antipathes ? it looks uncom- 

 monly like one." In reply, I could only state that I had not 

 done so — and for the simple reason that, not having specially 

 given my attention to the Anthozoa, I had always regarded 

 Antipathes as allied to Oorgonia, and therefore in no way 

 connected with the Hydrozoa, of which I conceived Hydra- 

 dendrium spinosum to be one, and had named it accordingly. 



But the significance and propriety of the question coming 

 from such high authority was immediately realized when I 

 referred to Ellis's illustrations of Antipathes, among which 

 A. ulex appeared to me to be identical in form with Hydra- 

 dendrium spinosum • so the idea as quickly flashed upon me 

 that Antipathes itself, after all, might be a Hydroid Ccelen- 

 terate. 



The next step was to compare, as Mr. Norman had sug- 

 gested, the Manaar specimen with different species of Anti- 

 pathes. But here my resources entirely failed ; and I was thus 

 thrown back upon the literature of the subject, viz. Pallas*, 

 Ellis and Solander f, LamourouxJ, De Blainville§, and, lastly, 



* Elenchus Zoophytorum, 8vo, 1766. 



t Nat. Hist, of Zoophytes, 4to, 1786. 



\ Corallina or Flexible Corallines (Engl, transl), 8vo, 1824 



§ Manuel d'Actinologie, and Atlas, 8vo, 1834. 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. vi. 21 



