614 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



Stem with internodes uniformly lessening in length and 

 calibre. 



Breadth of branches in front, "24 mm. 



„ „ „ laterally, '3 mm. 



Length of zooecium, *6 mm. 



Breadth of zooecium (unrolled), '2 mm. 



Habitat. — Albany Passage ; 10 fms. ; Station 8. 



Professor Haddon's specimen consists of only one jointed stem, 

 crowned by its tuft. Some of the lower joints of the stem project 

 laterally ; and from these other jointed stems probably branch off. 



The joints and internodes of the stem, in their construction, 

 combine lightness and flexibility with firmness and strength. 

 Each internocle consists of a horny scaffolding, leaving two long, 

 oval (membranous) fenestrse ; at the nodes the horny bands break 

 up into numerous shorter fascicles. The fenestrse form a line on 

 each side of the stem. Several muscular fasciculi can be seen in 

 the topmost internode. 



The transition from the internodes to the zooecia is well shown ; 

 and the origin of the scaffoldings on the stem becomes manifest. 

 The highest single internode bifurcates, and each bifurcation again 

 divides. The internodes more and more resemble zooecia, and the 

 intern odal fenestrse become the apertures of the zooecia. 



The genus Stirparia has been objected to on the ground that 

 it is not founded on zooecial characters ; but the metamorphosis of 

 zooecia to form stems may, perhaps, be considered as a zooecial and, 

 therefore, generic characteristic. If not, Stirparia would form a 

 sub-genus under Bicellaria. 



The other species of Stirparia are — 



Stirparia annulata, Maplestone, Victoria. [Victoria. 



„ glabra, Hincks, . . Bahia, Western Australia, 

 „ exilis, Mac Grillivray, Port Phillip. 

 In Stirparia glabra fenestrse are present in the internodes, 

 which are alternately longer and shorter. 



JBugula dentata, Lamouroux. 



The zoarium is of a leaden-blue colour, and forms spirally 

 arranged fronds. There is one well-developed spine at each upper 



