108 Descriptions of New, or Little Known, Polyzoa. 



Of this I have only seen two specimens, sent to me by Mr. 

 J. B. Wilson ; one three-quarters of an inch in length, the 

 other smaller. The zoarium consists of cylinders branched 

 exactly as in Cellaria australis, the branches not dviding 

 dichotomously, but rising from the sides by flexible corneous 

 tubes. The cells are, on the surface, quite confluent, and 

 mostly only distinguishable by their mouths. The whole 

 surface is beautifully punctate, the punctations being caused 

 by the reticulation of chains of small depressions or pores. 

 The cells are slightly bulging below, and there is usually a 

 minute circular opening above the middle, not shown in the 

 figure. 



In a Mediterranean specimen, the cylinders present the 

 same appearance, but are more calcified, and some are larger. 

 The chains of reticulation are raised by calcareous deposi- 

 tion, so as to leave pits corresponding to the punctations in 

 the Victorian specimen figured. The cells are more bulging, 

 mostly separated by distinct lines, and the peristome is more 

 prominent. The corneous tubes connecting the smaller tubes 

 are annulated. The connection of some of the larger 

 cylinders is composed of bundles of tubes similar to the 

 radical tubes, by a mass of which the whole zoarium has 

 been attached. The latter, however, are very loose, branched 

 and jointed. 



Family Bicellakiid.e. 

 Beania Wilsoni, n. sp. Plate II., fig. 1. 



Cells connected with six others by long, corneous tubes, 

 suberect, entirely open in front ; two or three short, straight, 

 slender spines, and one or two sharp, incurved spines on the 

 margin on each side. Posterior surface smooth. A large, 

 capitate avicularium articulated at the upper part of the 

 cell on each side. 



Port Phillip Heads, Mr. J. B. Wilson. 



This is undoubtedly distinct from the other Australian 

 forms described, although in some respects approaching B. 

 (Diachoris) spinigera. It is, however, closely allied to the 

 •South African Diachoris distans of Hincks, from which it 

 differs in having avicularia on both sides, and in the absence 

 of the round mark of the radical tube posteriorly. 



Another species of Beania, which has been dredged at the 

 Heads by Mr. Wilson and myself, seems to be identical with 

 Busk's D. costata, described from Kerguelen ; s Land (Phil. 



