116 ON A NEW SPECIES OF MINfAD. 



rugLieux, mais sans tubercules verruciformes." I see no reason 

 for not placing the new specimen in tliis genus ; but I may suggest 

 that as Minyas differs only from Plotactis by the presence of 

 verrucee, it would be better to unite the genera, and to use, of 

 course, the old and well-known term of Ilinyas. The genus 

 Oceanactis, instituted by Moseley*, has one row of costal tubercles, 

 and so far would be intermediate between Minyas and Plotactis ; 

 it is distinguished, however, by the connection between the 

 air-chamber and the coelenteric cavity. Nautactis is distin- 

 guished by its composite tentacles. 



The recognition of the two genera Minyas and JSTaiitactis, and 

 the grouping under them of most of the species now known, 

 appears to be a wiser plan, and one that is more in accordance 

 with the habit of zoological students than that which has unfor- 

 tunately been taken by Dr. Andresf, who has instituted four new 

 genera to take the place of those already known. This is not 

 the place, nor is mine the wish, to criticise Dr. Andres's work ; 

 but I cannot but express regret at what he has done. 



The specimen now under consideration may be called Minyas 

 torpedo. 



To the fflorphologist the point of greatest interest with regard 

 to the species is that it makes yet another example of the excep- 

 tions to the rule that the Actiniaria in their adult state present 

 a hexamerous arrangement of their parts. 



P.S. — Since the above was communicated to the Society, Prof. 

 Stewart has shown me a specimen from New Zealand which he 

 has discovered in the stores of the Museum of the Eoyal College 

 of Surgeons. It is hardly in a condition for description ; but I 

 find in it a confirmation of the view that Minyas and Plotactis 

 are not to be distinguished generically. 



* Trans. Linn. Soc. (2) i. (1877) p. 296. 



t Die Actinien. ' Fauna u. Flora des Grolfes von Neapel,' ix. pp. 349-355. 

 Dr. Andres has omitted to notice that Mr. Moseley's figure of Oceanactis 

 rhododacfyla is expressly said to be " twice the natural size," or he would not 

 have said " Dimensioni non date." 



