892 PllOF. S. J. HICKSON ON THE 



coiwexities on the surface, sometimes between the spines, some- 

 times cai-rying the spines with them. They appear to be alwa3's 

 absent in tlie older branches a,ncl stems. Our knowledge is still 

 so very imperfect concerning the growth and relations of the 

 gonophores in the Stylasterina that it is not reasonable to use any 

 diffei-ences that ma.y be observed in the chai-acters of the ampullse 

 for purposes of classification. 



The questions to be answered are the following : — • 



1 . Are there any constant diifei'ences between the male and the 



female ampuUse ? 



2. Is there any correlation between the sex of the colonies and 



chai-acters of the general structure of the coenosteum ? 



These two questions could be answered without much difficulty 

 by the examination of a number of preserved specimens of the 

 same species from the same locality. 



In Professor Benham's notes on the structure of a specimen 

 which probably corresponds with Errina (Labiojyoj-a) novoi 

 zelandice facies " Ramosa," I find the following remark : — " Each 

 ampulla seems to have a small pore (? dactylopore) on its surface." 

 In the specimen I have examined of this species I cannot find 

 tliese small pores on the ampullae. Yon Marenzeller also remarks 

 that the male ampullee exhibit small dactylopores " in niedrigen 

 Spitzchen." 



In a previous paper (3) I have shown that, in the ripe male 

 gonophores of Distichojyora and Allopora, the spermatozoa are 

 discharged by a spout-like seminal duct. In the case of the female 

 gonophore, however, the only way of escape of the embryo is by the 

 rupture of the whole surface of the ampulla. It seems possible, 

 therefore, that the pore on the ampulla mentioned by Professor 

 Benham may be for the opening of the seminal duct and that the 

 specimen may be a male. On the other hand, it must not be 

 assumed that when the surface of a specimen is marked by large 

 shallow dejDressions having the size and appearance of ruptured 

 ampullfe, the specimen is necessarily a female colony, because in 

 the specimen of Errina {Lahiopora) capensis in which these 

 shallow depressions are very well-marked I fovmd to my surprise 

 that it was a male colony. 



As regards the structure of the gonophores there is very little 

 to be said at present. The male gonophores of Errina (Lahiopora) 

 capensis exhibit a well-developed spadix (manubrium), and in this 

 respect the genus seems to resemble Bistic/wjwra and to differ 

 from Allopora. The only other spirit specimen I have received 

 was a small branch of Errina (Labiopoirc) novce zelandice facies 

 " Benhami," and this proved to be a female. The specimen was 

 not, however, in sufficiently good condition to enable me to study 

 the structure of the gonophore. 



Ccenenchymal Canals. — From the two spirit specimens I have 

 ascertained certain isolated facts which may be of some use when 

 our knowledge of the afenus is extended. 



