1881.] THE SURVEY OF H. M.S. 'ALERT.' .51 



projecting Into them from the side, giving them more or less of u 

 crescentic appearance. One specimen, which was taken from t!ic 

 base of a Sponge and grew partially over an Idmonect, was bent over 

 on itself, so that the two halves appeared inclined to unite back to 

 back and form an Escharoid frond ; but there was a space between 

 them, which was perhaps originally partially filled with the substance 

 of the Sponge. 



Hah. Elizabeth Island, 6 fathoms; Sandy Point, 7-10 fathoms; 

 on flexible worm-tube and Balanus sessile on the same. Also Tom 

 Bay, near Madre de Dios archipelago, 0-30 fathoms, on base of 

 Sponge. 



Obs. The different specimens vary much in the distinctness of the 

 cells and the number and regularity of the punctures. 



Lepralia appressa. Busk, var. nov. vinosa. (Plate VI. fig. 4.) 



Lepralia pertusa, Mauzoni ? Sitzungsb. Ak. Wien, lix. (2) p. 520, 

 pi. ii. fig. 11 (Pliocene). 



Lepralia adpressa, Busk, Cat. Polyz. Brit. Mus. p. 82, pi. cii. 

 figs. 3, 4, pi. ii. fig. 11. 



Zooecia distinct, moderately to broadly ovate, or obscurely penta- 

 gonal, slightly convex, closely adnate to surface as a compact zoarium. 

 Mouth defined by a slightly salient narrow rim, well arched above, 

 constricted towards lower angles by two rounded processes projecting 

 into the aperture ; lower lip entire, somewhat irregular in outline, 

 slightly projecting outwards. Surface of zocecium covered with 

 obscure tubercles, arranged in a series round edge of cell and over 

 the surface, sometimes in transverse series across the cell ; surface 

 granular. Colour of zooecia, with the exception of the rim of the 

 moutli (which is white or brownish) and the apices of the tubercles 

 (which appear white), puce (or crimson-purple) ; colour faint on 

 oldest parts of zoarium. Ooecium small, slightly convex, minutely 

 roughened, not tuberculated, subcircular, brownish. 



Hab. Portland Bay, S.W. Chili, 10 fathoms, on shell of Crepipa- 

 tellu. 



Obs. This species resembles L. lata, Busk., and L. adpressa, 

 Busk (lately united by Hincks, in Hist. Brit. Mar. Polyzoa, under 

 the latter name), so closely in all essential characters except the 

 colour, that I have hesitated to give it a new appellation. However, 

 as compared with the type specimen of L. adpressa and the figures 

 of L. lata, the aperture of the mouth is seen to be much less clearly 

 defined, the lower lip being very indistinct, and the mouth is consi- 

 derably smaller. These characters may be due to thickening of the 

 wall to some extent ; but still the colour remains. But as Lepralia 

 (Microporella, Hincks) violacea, Johnst., may vary from dark purple 

 to cream-colour, and Lepralia {Mucronella, Hincks) coccinea, Abild., 

 with age from grey to red, it appears not safe to depend on this alone 

 as a specific character. It is noteworthy that it adheres to the 

 practice of its aUies, of growing on a shell. 



4* 



