Art. IX. — The Genera of the Phimulariidce, with 

 Observations on Various Australian Hydroids. 



By W. M. Bale, F.R.M.S., Hon. Sec. Microscopical 

 Society of Victoria. 



[Read ]2th August, 1886.] 



I. — Introduction. 



The principal objects of the present paper are, in 

 the first place, to present a general summary of the 

 classification of the Plumulariidge, with suggestions 

 for two or three modifications of the genera ; and, 

 secondly, to offer some further observations on a few 

 of the Australian Hydroida, which have been previously 

 described by myself or others. Professor Allman's Report 

 on the " Challenger" Plumulariidse, which contains descrip- 

 tions of several Australian species, was issued after the 

 ^' Catalogue of the Australian Hydroid Zoophytes" was in 

 the printer's hands, and although it was not till six months 

 later that I had the last opportunity of correcting and 

 adding to the text of the " Catalogue," I was not then aware 

 of Professor Allman's work having appeared, and was, 

 consequently, unable to adopt any of the new genera 

 proposed therein, or otherwise to avail myself of its valu- 

 able assistance. Among the species described as new in the 

 Eeport, one or two appear to me identical with some of Mr. 

 Busk's, and the new genus and species Halicornopsis 

 ■avicularis, described by me in the Journal of the Micro- 

 scopical Society of Victoria for 1882, is re-described under 

 the name of Azygoplon rostraturn.. These species, with 

 others which are dealt with in the He port, will be more 

 particularly treated of further on, after the general remarks 

 on the Plumulariid^. 



In addition to Professor Allman's work, there have 

 appeared, since the completion of the " Catalogue," a list of 

 localities for Australian Hydroids by Dr. Kirchenpauer, a 

 paper by the same author on Northern Genera and Species of 

 Hydroida, which includes also descriptions of several new 

 Australian species, and Dr. Lendenfeld's series of papers on 

 the Australian Hydromedusas, in which are included descrip- 

 tions of a number of new and interesting species, and several 



