i3o 



Memoirs of the Indian Museum. 



[Vol. V, 



circumstances the stalk is very little if at all longer than the capitulum, but if the 

 colony is overwhelmed by mud it may become greatly elongated; its cuticle is 

 almost smooth and may be either colourless or have a distinct brownish tinge. The 

 capitulum is rather narrowly ovoid, the blunter end being uppermost; in the opposite 

 plane it is strongly compressed. When the lophophore is retracted, its direction is 

 almost vertical, but when the tentacles are extended it slopes outwards and down- 

 wards in the same way as that of L. colonialis and U. gracilis. The normal number 

 of tentacles appears to be 14. 



The relative size of the capitulum shield varies considerably, but as a rule it 

 does not completely cover the aboral surface, leaving bare a rim of variable width at 

 the upper end. At the sides its margins are clear-cut; below the oral area they 

 bend inwards towards the middle of the oral surface and are then obliquely truncated. 

 There are never any spines on the shield ; its ornamentation consists of numerous 

 minute, closely compacted oval depressions arranged regularly in transverse rows. 

 Those of the upper rows are a little larger than those nearer the narrowed basal 



Fig. 2. — Loxosomatoides laevis, sp. nov. 

 Resting bud as seen from above in optical section, x 250. 



extremity. The oral surface is completely devoid of spines or other armature and 

 is always colourless. In life, as in spirit, the contrast between it and the shield, 

 which is of a yellowish shade, is usually striking. 



The length of the capitulum in the largest polyps is usually about 0^47 mm., the 

 greatest breadth about 035 mm., and the thickness considerably less. 



The most interesting fact ascertained with reference to the biology of this 

 species was that of the production of resting buds. Seen from above these buds 

 (rig. 2) closely resemble capitula lying, oral surface downwards, on the object to which 

 the colony is attached. They are usually, however, rather narrower than ordinary 

 capitula and their stalks, instead of standing upright or bending over in a semi- 

 recumbent position, lie flat and adhere throughout their length. The upper surface 

 of the bud is covered by a shield closely resembling that of a capitulum and orna- 

 mented in the same manner. At the broader end this shield is somewhat thinner 

 and of a paler yellow. At the other extremity the bud bears a stout circular 

 annulus of horny substance through which the stalk enters, the direction of this ring 

 being at right angles to the surface on which it rests. The stalk, except in being 



