TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS, 101 
On an Early Stage in the Development of Comatula. 
By Professor Attman, M.D., F.R.S. 
This paper was also read in Section C, with fuller remarks on the paleonto- 
logical relations of the subject of it. An abstract is given in the proceedings of that 
Section (p. 65). 
On the Structure of Corymorpha nutans. By Professor Attman, M.D., FBS, 
The body of the polype was described as presenting a continuous cavity as far 
back as the zone of posterior tentacula. From the floor of this cavity a large 
conical mass of vacuolated endoderm projects forwards, and nearly fills the posterior 
wider part of the cavity, whose extension backwards seems at first sight not to be 
continued beyond the zone of posterior tentacula. There is here, however, in reality, 
no interruption of the general body-cavity ; for the axis of the conical projecting 
mass of endoderm is perforated by a channel, which thus continues the cavity back- 
wards to the summit of the stem. 
A system of inosculating longitudinal tubular vacuole was described as existing 
in the stem; they are indicated externally by the longitudinal coloured lines visible 
even by the naked eye. At the summit of the stem they coalesce and become con- 
tinuous with the cavity of the body. In these tubes, distinct currents, similar to 
those so long known in the stem of Tubularia indivisa, were occasionally very per- 
ceptible under the microscope. 
nder a high power of the microscope, delicate parallel longitudinal strie may 
be detected, lying externally to the tubular vacuole ; they are situated between 
the ectoderm and endoderm, and may be traced upwards on the body of the polype 
as far at least as the zone of posterior tentacula; they seem to consist of fine tubu- 
lar fibres, and are apparently the equivalent of the fibres (muscular ?) visible beneath 
the ectoderm of Clava, Coryne, &c. Still finer circular strize may also be occasion- 
ally witnessed under a high power running transversely round the stem; but the 
author could not determine whether these represent fibres or mere ruge in the 
ectoderm. 
The gonophores are medusiform, and were described as belonging to the generic 
type of Steenstrupia (Forbes). They were liberated in abundance from the specimens 
examined. The generative elements were not visible in any of the medusoids at 
the time of their liberation ; but the author obtained from the same part of the sea 
where the Corymorpha occurred a free Steenstrupia, a little larger than the medusoids 
of the present species at the time when they become detached, and which he 
did not hesitate to consider as specifically identical with them, and in this the 
generative elements were quite distinct between the ectoderm and endoderm of the 
manubrium. 
The species of Corymorpha which constituted the subject of this communication 
was considered by the author as identical with C. nutans (Sars), though it does not 
entirely agree with the diagnosis of that species as given by Sars. It was discovered 
in the Frith of Forth last summer. 
On some new British Tubularide. By Professor Attman, M.D., FES. 
The author gave the following diagnoses of new species of Tubularide which he 
had obtained during the autumn of 1862 on the coasts of Shetland and Devonshire. 
Clava diffusa (mihi). Polypes about } of an inch in height, light rose-colour, 
developed at intervals upon a creeping reticulated stolon; tentacula about twenty. 
Gonophores scattered, commencing just behind the posterior tentacula, and thence 
extending singly, or in small clusters, for some distance backwards upon the body 
of the polype. In rock-pools at low-water spring-tides. Out Skerries, Shetland 
Isles. 
Tubiclava (mihi, nov. gen.). Polype claviform, supported on the summit of free 
stems, which rise at intervals from a creeping stolon and are invested by a chiti- 
nous periderm ; tentacula filiform, scattered. Gonophores, dense clusters of sporo- 
sacs aggregated immediately behind the posterior tentacula. 
Tubiclava lucerna (mihi). Zoophytes about 2 lines in height; stems quite sim- 
