TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 119 



species examined by this distinguished foreign naturalist belongs to another genus. 

 Should this prove to be the case, the interest of his discovery will not be lessened 

 on that account, as it would seem to establish the fact that the tadpole-larva con- 

 dition is non-essential in the development of the Tunicata, and may have important 

 influence on the doctrine of Kowalevsky respecting the relationship of the Tunicata 

 to the Vertebrata. 



The paper concludes with the description of two new genera, namely Corclla and 

 Eugyra, and nineteen new species of simple Ascidians. 



On the relations of Peuicillium, Torula, and Bacterium. 

 By Professor T. H. Huxley, LL.D., F.B.S. 



On a Pentaci'imis (P. Wyville-Thomsoni) from the Coasts of Spain and 

 Portugal. By J. Gwtk Jeffreys, F.B.S. 



During the recent deep-sea exploring expedition in H.M.S. 'Porcupine' Mr. 

 Jeffreys dredged, at a depth of 795 fathoms, between Vigo and Lisbon, specimens 

 •of a fine PeHfacrinus, about a foot long. Associated with it were Zeda ohtiisa and 

 other arctic species of IMollusca, besides several kinds of simple and compound 

 Corals and Hydrozoa. The tentacles or arms of the same species of Peiitacrinus 

 were afterwards taken by the dredge, in 364 fathoms, near the entrance to Cadiz 

 Bay. In the latter dredging the Mollusca were mostly of a southern character, but 

 included Vcrticordia acuticostatn (a crag and Sicilian fossil, as well as living in the 

 Japanese sea) and a few northern species, such as Plmrotoma turricula and Trochzis 

 amahilis. There were likewise some remarkable and apparently new Echinoderms, 

 Corals, and Hydrozoa. This was stated by the author to be the first instance of a 

 true Pentacrinm having been found in the European seas. Two species inhabit the 

 West Indies, viz. the well-known P. caput-medusa and P. 3Iicl/eri. The species 

 now exhibited had evidently not been attached at its base, which is quite regular 

 and free, although it was imbedded in sandy mud, with the lowermost cirri serving 

 to keep the Pentacrinus in an upright position, like the horizontal and spreading 

 roots of a fir tree. 



On an existing Favositoid Coral*. By W. Saville Ej;nt. 



In this communication the author gave a description of an existing coral closely 

 allied to the Palseozoic genus Favosites, which he last year discovered amono- the 

 collection of Madrepores contained in the Paris Museum. Unfortunately no record 

 of the habitat of this interesting form has been preserved, though, at the same time, 

 its recent origin is undoubted. The author has proposed to distinguish this fonn 

 by the name oi Favosifijmra Deshaycsii. The author pointed out its close aifi- 

 nities to Alreopora, an existing genus common throughout the Red and Eastern 

 seas, and from which it dilfered only in its possession of irregulary disposed, but 

 perfectly developed tabuhe. Through Koninckia, a coral of the Cretaceous forma- 

 tion, it is immediately allied to the Palaeozoic genus Favosites ; and he affirmed to 

 haying recently discovered among the collection of fossd corals contained in the 

 British Museum a form having no history attached to it, but undoubtedly referable 

 to the American Devonian or Carboniferous deposits, in no way diflering generi- 

 caUy from the existing coral in the Paris Museum. He distinguishes this species 

 by the name of Favositipora palceozoica. The author regarded the structure of F. 

 I)eshaijcsii as strong evidence in refutation of the theory advocated by Professor 

 Agassiz, " that all the tabulate corals are to be referred to the Hydrozoa," its near 

 ally ^/reo;;orrt being- sucli a well-known Actinozoon. He also expressed his 



opinion that no septate coral could justifiably be referred to that lower group, 



septa being essentially intermesenteric developments, which could consequently' be 

 possessed by Actinozoa alone. 



The author likewise referred to this form as bearing out his opinion that the 



* This coral is i3gured and fully described in the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History ' for November 1870. 



