536 ON SOME IfLW-ZEALAND ACTHiTIAEIA. 



operative in former geological times. The late ~Rev. Teiiison- 

 Woods, when studying the Tertiary fauna of New Zealand, found 

 a Fasciculipora very nearly allied to a species of Bryozoan from 

 the Lower Pliocene of Europe. It was, he considers, " a fact 

 of more than ordinary interest in natural science that two 

 such characteristic and closely allied organisms should flourish 

 at the same epoch, in such remote seas as those of Britain aud 

 New Zealand. The differences between the fossils were so small 

 that if they were found in the same beds they would be regarded 

 as mere varieties." (Proc. Linn. Soc. JS.S. "W. vol. v. p. 283, 

 1881.) 



I believe that most interesting and valuable results (results 

 that would perhaps modify the views held by many as to the 

 origin of species) would be obtained if a naturalist, thoroughly 

 conversant with the literature and who has access to one of the 

 great natural history libraries in England, were to collect all the 

 information which has been recorded relating to representative 

 species found in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and work 

 out the affinities of the faunas, both terrestrial and marine, of 

 these regions. Unfortunately this could not be done fully at 

 present, for some of the groups, such as the Annelids, Sponges, 

 Tunicates, Infusoria, and Insects, have not yet been thoroughly 

 worked up in New Zealand ; and some of those who have 

 attempted to describe species have done so insufficiently, and 

 without giving their relations and affinities. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 36. 



Fig. 1. Edwardsia elegans, with disc and capitulum invected. Nat. size. 



2. „ „ (Japitulum and tentacles. X 3. 



3. Edwardsia neozelanica. Nat. size. 



4. Halcampactis mirahilis. Nat. size. 



5., „ „ Nematocysts of the acontia. X 280. 



6. ,. „ Disc and tentacles. X 3. 



