TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 529 
3. On the Polymorphism of Aleyonaria. 
By Professor Mitnes Marsnatt, M.D., D.Sc. 
Among the specimens of Pennatulida dredged by H.M.S. ‘ Triton’ in the Faroe 
Channel during last autumn were two cases in which the asexual zooids present 
features of special interest. 
In the first case, the variety of Pennatula phosphorea known as aculeata, certain 
of the zooids along the ventral surface are much enlarged and assume the form of 
conical spikes, which attain a length of nearly a quarter of an inch. The greater 
part of the length of the spike is formed by a unilateral development of the calyx 
containing prolongations of the body cavity, the mouth of the zooid being situated 
near the base of the spike. 
In the second case, a new species of Umbellula, certain of the zooids possess a 
single well-developed tentacle, with a row of pinnules along each side. In possess- 
ing pinnules, and thereby exactly agreeing with a tentacle of a polyp the zooids 
of Umbellula gracilis are unique, and a yery interesting question arises as to 
whether this unitentacular condition is to be considered primitive or not. This 
question was discussed at some length, the evidence we possess, which however is 
avowedly very defective, being on the whole rather against its primitive nature.! 
4. On the Budding of Polyzoa. By Professor A. C. Happon. 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 
The following Reports and Papers were read :— 
1. Third Revort of the Committee for the Investigation of the Natural History 
of Timor-laut.—See Reports, p. 224. 
to 
. Report of the Committee for the Investigation of the Natural History of 
Socotra and the adjacent Highlands of Arabia aud Somali Land. 
See Reports, p. 227. 
3. Report of the Committee for the Exploration of Kilimanjaro and the ad- 
joining Mountains of Eastern Equatorial Africa.—See Reports, p. 228, 
4, Report on the Migration of Birds.—See Reports, p. 229. 
5. On a young specimen of the Grey Seal (H. gryphon) from Boscastle, 
Cornwall. By Professor E. Ray Lankesrer, F.R.S. 
This recently-born animal was found on the rocks, and brought up alive and 
deposited in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London. It is believed that 
the locality is the most southern on record for the breeding of this species, 
6. On the Cerm-Theory of Disease, considered from the Natural History point 
of view. By Wituam B. Carpenter, C.B., F.B.S. 
The object of this paper is to bring together two orders of facts, of whose bear- 
ing on one another (in the author's opinion) too little account has hitherto been 
' For full description of these forms vide ‘Report on the Pennatulida dredged by 
H.M.S. Triton.’—Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin. 1883. 
1883. MM 
