On the Inter jpr elation o/Tolyparium ambulans, Korotneff. 273 



XXXIII. — On the Interpretation q/" Polypariura ambulans, 

 Korotneff. By Prof. E. Ehlees*. 



The Polyparium anibulans described in a former memoir by 

 Dr. A. KorotnefFf is, in my opinion, capable of a different 

 interpretation from that there given to it. It may, indeed, 

 appear a delicate proceeding for me to venture to express an 

 opinion upon a doubtful animal form without having myself 

 seen it, and solely from the investigation of another natural- 

 ist ; but as I do this with Dr. Korotneff 's knowledge, I am 

 urged thereto by the wish to call attention not only to this 

 interesting form of polyp, but also to the occurrence of cer- 

 tain animal forms which, perhaps, possess a community of 

 clxaracter. 



From the description which Dr. Korotneff has given of 

 Polyparium amhulans, and especially of its histological struc- 

 ture, it appears indubitably that from all its peculiarities the 

 animal is to be referred to the Anthozoa. Korotneff expects 

 to obtain elucidations of Polyparium from a better knowledge 

 of the genus M<x.andrina ; from his point of view an accurate 

 investigation of the remarkable Bicordea jlorida^ Duch. & 

 Mich. I, would probably contribute still more to a settlement, 

 seeing that Bicordea florida stands in the same relation to the 

 Actinias generally as the Mceandrince to the Garyophyliice. 

 Both genera, the skeleton-forming as well as the fleshy one, 

 have it in common that they become developed from simple 

 persons to stocks with imperfect separation of the numerous 

 personse. 



'Here comes in Korotneff's conception of Polyparium 

 arnbulans, inasmuch as he regards this animal also as an im- 

 perfect stock-formation. And here comes my different inter- 

 pretation, inasmuch as I regard Polyparium as only one 

 persona. 



Mceaiidrina and Bicordea are animals with multiple buccal 

 apertures, but, along with these, with common circlets of 

 tentacles, a phenomenon of which we also know of analogies 

 among the Acalephs ; and it is quite justifiable to infer a 

 persona to each buccal aperture in the imperfect stock. It is 

 in this way that Korotneff regards Polyparium as a creature 

 with numerous buccal apertures, and, accordingly, as an 



* Translated from the ' Zeitschrift fiir wissenscliaftliclie Zoologie, ' 

 Band slv. pp. 491-498. 



t See ' Annals/ September 1887, p. 203. 



\ Dnchassaing et Michelotti, " Memoire sur les Coralliaires des An- 

 tilles," in Mem. Accad. Sci. Torino, ser. ii. tomo xix, (1861), p. 317. 



