Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \Polyzoa. 



areolated. The cells at the margins of the foramina are generally 

 considerably larger. In one specimen, those on the extreme 

 growing edge are perforated or fenestrate, and without the suboral 

 pore ; those adjoining, however, present the usual structure. As 

 in other Escharse, the openings of the cells towards the base of the 

 polzyoary become overgrown. The avicularia are of two sorts. 

 In many cells there is a small avicularium, on one or both sides, 

 below the mouth, with the pointed mandible directed more or less 

 outwards. The other avicularia are very large, and take the place 

 of a cell. In them the mandible is spoon-shaped, and of enormous 

 size. They frequently occur grouped two or three together, and 

 in the specimen figured are especially abundant at the edges of the 

 openings formed by the anastomoses of the branches. In some of 

 these the mandible is shorter and occasionally pointed, and the 

 supporting basis is very prominent when seen in profile. 



E. platalea is distinguished from the other Victorian stony 

 species with which I am acquainted by the narrow, flat, anasto- 

 mosing lobes, the simple suboral pore, the size and shape of the 

 large, scattered, spoon-shaped avicularia, and the situation of the 

 small ones on the front of the cells. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 48. — Fig. 4, specimen, natural size. Fig. 4a, portion, magnified. Fig. 4b, cluster of 

 cells, more highly magnified, showing the small avicularia and a single, large, spatulate one. 

 Fig. 4c, small group, to show 2 large cells towards the edge of a lohe and a smaller one to 

 the side. 



Plate 48, Fig. 5. 



ESCHAEA QUADRATA (P. MacGil.). 



Description. — Polyzoary expanded, foliaceous, convoluted ; cells quadrate, 

 separated by narrow raised lines and arranged in longitudinal linear series; surface 

 grnnular and perforated; mouth arched above, lower lip arched upwards and 

 projecting, a minute, curved denticle sometimes on each side of the mouth imme- 

 diately above the angles. Avicularia, when present, situated at the side of the 

 mouth. Ovicell large, granular, with lines on the surface similar to those 

 separating the cells. 



Reference. — Eschara elegans, P. H. MacGillivray (not Milne Edwards), 

 Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., 1868. 



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