ON A NEW HYDROID ZOOPHYTE. 83 
mouth, below which is a single verticil of moderately long, exten- 
sile tentacles, in number varying from six or eight to twelve.* 
Polype soft and fleshy, of a pale pink colour, without any 
appearance of a hard investment: apparently produced from a 
ramifying, creeping root, which is seen with difficulty. Height, 
x to 4 inch, 
Reproduction by means of medusoids, which are produced a 
short distance below the origin of the tentacles ; variable in num- 
ber, sometimes four being seen on each polype, forming an imper- 
fect circlet; at other times only one medusoid appears on a 
polype. The medusoids, when free, possess four pair of granu- 
lated tentacles, of unequal length and dimensions, generally 
thickening towards the free end, and forming a tapering bulb. 
Eye spots of a deep red colour. Peduncle of a pale green 
tint, with four short capitate tentacles. Medusoid nearly semi- 
globular. 
This little Zoophyte was obtained from deep water, incrusting 
the shell of a Serpula, attached to a specimen of Aporrhais pes- 
pelicant. The shell, with its several parasites, was deposited in a 
tank, containing sea-water. This was during the early part of the 
spring—there they remained during the summer ; and, in August, 
a sketch was made of four individuals, presenting various aspects, 
which was followed by a figure of the medusoid in September. 
Little attention was paid to the polypes or to the figures ; but 
being submitted (with some other drawings) to Mr. Alder, 
accompanied by two or three depauperated specimens—all that 
remained of a considerable number—he informed me they be- 
longed to the genus Podocoryne, and was of opinion this species 
had not been described. The Rev. T. Hincks, of Leeds, con- 
firmed this opinion. 
I therefore venture to put forward my figures; and in offering 
the foregoing description, I do so with considerable diffidence. 
* T strongly suspect the variations in the number of tentacles may be accounted for by 
the following passage in Professor’s Green’s “ Manual of the Celenterata,” page 88 :—“ But 
the proliferous stalks of Podocoryne are furnished each with a mouth, and differ little from 
true polypites, save in their smaller size and the possession of fewer tentacula.” Iwas 
not aware of this circumstance when my observations were made, and.imagined the dif= 
ference was merely asimilar variation to that often met with in other forms. 
