HYDROZOA — RITCHIE, 825 



divides into several stout branches, one of which anastomoses 

 later with tlie stem. From the stem spring branches, large and 

 small, witli indescribable irregularity. Irregular offshoots spring 

 from these to the fouitli degree. All the branches are of the 

 same character as the stem, bearing the aspect of bare, gnarled 

 limbs of some weather-beaten tree. All, like the stem, are 

 strongly fascicled, and from most the ultimate, more delicate 

 branchlets, on which the hydrotheciB are exposed, have dis- 

 appeared. Where ultimate branchlets occur, they are seen to lie 

 in one plane and to spring in pinnate fashion from the branches, 

 those on one side lying almost opposite those on the other. The 

 ultimate branches are incomplete, and the whole colony appears 

 to have undergone severe weatheiinof, but in the portions which 

 exist, fascicle tubes accompany the axial tul)e through its whole 

 length. The fascicular tubes are narrow with thick brown walls,, 

 perforated by large circular openings, which allow communication 

 between the cavities of adjacent tubes. They generally run in 

 close parallel courses, aggregates of many tubes, which entirely 

 obscure the axial tube and its appendages ; but at places, the 

 tubes lose their regularity and twist, double, and branch, forming 

 a knotted maze which appears as a slight swelling on the branch. 

 Whether this contorted structure is a mere frolic of growtii, or 

 whether it has special purpose, the entire absence of even a trace 

 of ccenosarc renders it impossible to say. 



The axial tube is not divided into internodes, but it bears 

 alternate hydrothecse at regular intervals. These lie in one 

 plane, and are somewhat close-set, the base of one hydrotheca 

 lying opposite the summit of its predecessor. 



The hydrothecse are smaller and less graceful than is usual in 

 this genus. They are somewhat short and dumpy, two and a 

 half times as long as broad, narrow at base, widening upwards, 

 and contracting slightly again at the mouth. They are adnate 

 to the axial tube for almost the whole of their length, only a 

 small portion projecting beyond the profile of the branch, even 

 where fascicle tubes are few in number. The aperture is round, 

 but is difficult to observe, as the margin is usually damaged ; 

 there are no signs of reduplication of margin. The hydrothecse 

 bend outwards from the stem in a gradual curve, so that the 

 axis of the terminal portion of the hydrotheca faces upwards and 

 away from the branch at an angle of about 50°, but the curve is 

 stiff and lacks the finish and grace which characterises the hydro- 

 thecfe of the other species in this collection. No diaphragm 

 occurs at the base of the hydrotheca, the cavity of which opens 

 unrestricted into that of the axial tube ; but the free end of the 

 adcauline wall, which has been gradually sloping towards the 



