Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Polyzoa* 



Plate 47, Fig. 1. 

 DICTYOPOEA CELLULOSA (P. MacGil.). 



[Genus DICTYOPORA (P. MacGil.). (Sub-kingd. Mollusca. Class Polyzoa. Order 

 Infundibulata. Sub- Order Cheilostomata. Fam. Escharidas.) 



Gen. Char. — Polyzoary stony, expanded, foliaceous, fenestrate, articulated by a flexible 

 stem ; cells horizontal, opening on both sides.] 



Description. — Polyzoary expand ed, proliferous, and cavernous ; fenestra round, 

 narrower than the interspaces ; cells distinct, mouth nearly circular; a large avicu- 

 larium on the front of each cell below the mouth, with the mandible pointed 

 obliquely upwards and outwards. 



Reference. — P. H. MacGillivray, Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., 1868. 



Queenscliff. 



Of this handsome species, the largest specimen I have seen is the 

 one figured, which is 9 inches high by 16 in circumference at 

 its thickest part. In young specimens the color is deep brown, 

 but this becomes much lighter with age. The flexible stem by 

 which the polyzoary is attached is short, and is marked by narrow, 

 transverse, broken, coriaceous ridges, which are joined by masses of 

 short, tubular, vertical fibres. In old specimens the stem becomes 

 more rigid, from the deposit of calcareous matter. The polyzoary 

 is expanded, foliaceous, proliferous, and variously twisted to form 

 a cavernous mass like a large Eetepore. The cells are distinct, 

 with a small circular mouth, with a thickened margin. The avicu- 

 laria are very large, usually on the front and side of the cell, pointed 

 obliquely upwards and outwards, and with the mandible reaching 

 to opposite the middle of the cell-mouth. At the lower part of the 

 polyzoary the surface is occasionally elevated into obscure rounded 

 ridges, extending for a short distance upwards. The fenestra are 

 round, variable in size, but always narrower than the interspaces. 

 The size of the compartment formed by the twisting and junction 

 of the lamina varies, in some specimens the polyzoary being flatter 

 and with very few divisions. 



Lamouroux founded the genus Adeona to contain two Australian 

 zoophytes, characterised by the stony expanded frond being sup- 



* In different descriptions " zoarium " is used for " poiyzoarjV " zooecium " is used for " cell," and " ocecium " is used 



instead of " ovicell." 



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