230 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



to the conclusion that in the still unknown larva of the latter there is, 

 as in the former, developed a transverse wall — the septum of the stalk ; 

 in this two longitudinal spaces and a supporting hard structure are later 

 developed. It follows that the dorsal and ventral canals are parts of the 

 primitive gastric cavity of the axial polyp, while the lateral canals are 

 cavities in the walls that separate them, and are probably enlarged 

 nutrient canals. This generalization may, perhaps, be safely extended 

 ■to all other genera of Pannatulidas. 



New Cornularise.* — Mr. J. A. Grieg describes two new species of 

 Cornularise from the coast of Norway. Khizoxenia alba has a creeping 

 stolon which is adherent to submarine objects ; from this lateral branches 

 are given off at right angles to the parent stem, which they connect with 

 those adjacent ; the polyp is elongated and smooth, the septa are non- 

 calcareous, and the attenuated points of the tentacles are furnished with 

 pinnules. The stolon, cell, and polyp are closely covered with spicules. 

 Sympodium margaritaceum has a creeping basal part which adheres to 

 shells and other marine objects ; the polyps, which are ordinarily 

 solitary, are small and project but little ; the cell is firm, very finely 

 granulated, and of the same Havannah-brown colour as the lower part; 

 it has eight costse. The polyp-body is of a fine pale rose-red colour, 

 cylindrical, and with eight tentacles. The oral disc is smooth ; the 

 mouth oblong and slightly protuberant ; the pinnules and gullet are non- 

 calcareous ; the spicules of the polyp and tentacles are colourless ; they 

 extend as far as the points of the latter. 



North- Atlantic Actinida-f — Dr. D. C. Danielssen describes two very 

 remarkable genera, the exact systematic position of which is very hard 

 to define ; he places them provisionally with the Actinida, but makes for 

 them a new tribe, that of the -^girese, which he describes thus :— Actinida 

 with a perfect body-cavity (ccBlom) and a developed digestive apparatus, 

 consisting of oesophagus, intestine, and anus. The family ^giridse 

 contains ^girese, whose body is cylindrical and vermiform ; there are 

 twelve single septa, and the ccelom is divided into twelve longitudinal 

 chambers. The genus Fenja has an elongate body, furnished with twelve 

 longitudinal grooves, between which are twelve longitudinal areas covered 

 with suckers. There is a series of a few retractile tentacles.. Twelve 

 longitudinal muscles have prominent transverse muscles between them. 

 There are twelve genital pores round the anus, outside the rectum. The 

 circular muscles are mesodermal, and the sexes are united. The species 

 is called F. mirahilis. The genus ^gir (2E. frigidus) has a mucous 

 sheath, and small suckers are scattered between the twelve longitudinal 

 ribs. There is one cycle of a few tentacles. Immediately above the 

 anus there are twelve slender fissures which communicate directly with 

 the intestinal passage. The other characters are very similar to those 

 of Fenja. 



The anatomy of these interesting forms is described with great care 

 and in some detail. As observed alive Fenja was regarded as a Halcampa^ 

 and j3Sgir as one of the Cerianthidse. The integument with its epi^ 

 thelium, nematocysts, mucous glands, and connective tissue ; the form of 

 the tentacles, septa, gonads, and nervous system are all of the Ccelenterate 

 type ; but the chief characteristic of the Coelenterata — the gastrovaseular 



* Bergen's Museum Aarsberetning for 1887 (1888), No. 2, 18 pp. (2 pis.), 

 t T.c, No. 1, 24 pp. (3 pis.). 



