72i MU. G. BUSK ON RECENT 



to those in the pareut-stock. The body contains a large number 

 of granules, and also masses of what appear to have been fully 

 formed spermatozoa. "Whether this is the male of the above 

 form, or another, is, of course, an open question ; but the bristles 

 certainly correspond. 



On Eecent Species of Heteropora. By GtEoege Buse", 

 E.E.S., r.L.S. 



[Bead June 19, 1879.] 

 (Plate XV.) 



In the June number of the ' Journal of the Eoyal Microscopical 

 Society,' Mr. A¥. Waters, F.Gr.S., has described a species of 

 Heteropora from the seas of Japan to which he has given the 

 name of H. pelliculata ; he also mentions a second species from 

 Australia under the appellation of Heteropora cervicornis, consi- 

 dering it to be identical with the J?letliopora cervicornis of 

 M. d'Orbiguy *. 



Till the appearance of Mr. Waters's interesting communication 

 no species belonging to the genus seems to have been published. 

 The occurrence, therefore, of the above two forms, belonging to 

 a genus of which we had previously no species more recent than 

 the Crag, and extending back to the Cretaceous period, is of par- 

 ticular interest. 



My object in this brief communication is to indicate the exis- 

 tence at the present time of what may probably be a third species 

 referable to the genus. 



Some few years back Prof. Nicholson was good enough to 

 furnish me with some very fine specimens of a recent Heteropora 

 which he had received from ISTew Zealand, and of which it was 

 long since my intention to have furnished an account. This 

 intention, however, has not hitherto been carried out ; and I have 

 thus been anticipated by Mr. "Waters in the announcement of the 

 fact of the present existence of the ancient genus Heteropora. 



The New-Zealand species in most respects appears to bear a 

 very strong resemblance to the Japanese form, and I am by no 

 means satisfied that they are not specifically the same. As, how- 

 ever, there tare one or two points in which, to judge from Mr. 



* Pal. Fran9ai3e, pi. 799. figs. 4, 5. 



