ON irEDITEREANEAjS" AND NEW-ZEALAND EETEPOE^. 255 



On Mediterranean and New-Zealand Retepor<s and a Fenestrate 

 Bryozoa. By Akthue Wm. Watees, F.L.S. 



[Eead 1st November, 1894.] 



(Plates VI. & VII.) 



OuE knowledge of tlie Mediterranean Beteporce is most unsatis- 

 factory, as so many specific names have been given on account of 

 slight differences in the nature of the reticulation ; and when 

 preparing a detailed list of Bryozoa found near Eapallo *, the 

 specimens examined in several cases did not correspond with 

 published descriptions, so that an entire re-examination of Medi- 

 terranean Beteporcs seemed desirable. The reason for a more 

 careful examination of the value of various points was increased 

 upon receiving from Professor Parona, of Grenoa, a most 

 interesting fenestrate Bryozoa, which, at the first glance, seemed 

 to belong to Betepora^ whereas, upon consideration of the 

 characters of the Beteporce, it is not placed with them but 

 described as Palmicellaria parallelata, though with much doubt 

 as to whether it should not be made the type of a new genus. 



The genus Betepora was first established on account of the 

 anastomosing reticulate zoarial growth ; but it has become quite 

 clear that this is not a satisfactory character, since species have 

 been found which are simply foliaceous with the zooecial features 

 oi Betepora. Although our ideas of the importance of reticulation 

 have quite changed, I maintain that we have here a natural group 

 based upon zocecial characters, though unaware of any one 

 character which is absolutely constant. 



The branches usually anastomose, the non-zooecial face of the 

 zoarium is usually relatively thick, with lacunae in the shell- 

 structure, and this dorsal surface is separated into areas by 

 vibices ; but these areas, as a rule, in no way correspond with the 

 zooecial divisions, whereas in Petralia and in what I now call 

 Balmicellaria parallelata the divisions on the dorsal surface 

 simply mark off the boundaries of the zooecia t. 



There is usually a labial fissure or pore, and this I should 



* I hope that the results of some work done in Eapallo, near Genoa, will 

 shortly be published, but an irritation of the eyes has caused delay. 



t In the fossil Eetepura elegans, Reuss, from the Bartonian of Italy, the 

 zooecial divisions are also shown on the dorsal surface. 



XINN. JOTJEN. — ZOOLOGT, YOL. XXT. 20 



