176 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [July, 



(cinclides) of the integument, whenever the animal is irritated, 

 serving as defensive organs. The craspeda are similar bands of a 

 yellowish colour, but they are shorter and never ejected, they 

 seem to be connected with the digestive system ; their composition 

 is similar to that of the acontia, except that there is in the centre a 

 considerable accumulation of an intercellular substance. The ovaria 

 are long strings, lying between the mesenterial folds ; there are 

 12 pairs of them present composed of eggs only. Thread-like organs 

 chiefly composed of spermatozoa appear to be only occasionally 

 formed. 



A small live specimen and parts of the solid skeleton were exhibited, 

 and the microscopical structure of the body illustrated by diagrams 

 and preparations. 



With reference to Membranipora Bengalensis, [a species of Bryozoa, 

 the lowest organized molluscs], Dr. Stoliczka said that the polyzo- 

 arium usually consists of a single layer, of hexagonal, flat cells which 

 are arranged in alternate rows. The upper part of the cells is 

 membranaceous, only in old specimens partially solid. The animal is 

 whitish, and the statoblasts are greenish. An interesting observation 

 was made regarding the progressive growth of the polyzoarium. At 

 first only a small, very thin, membranaceous cell is formed, being 

 filled with a greenish granular substance. In the next stage a small 

 embryo, with a transparent centre is visible, but the cell is still without 

 an aperture. Subsequently the tentacles become traceable in the 

 translucent centre of the embryo, and the dark, granular substance 

 diminishes in the same degree as the size of the embryo increases ; the 

 cell only communicates with the neighbouring ones by small lateral 

 holes. At last the embryo is seen to be attached to the posterior wall 

 of the cell by a few thin muscles, a long thread is developed at the 

 base, so as to fix the cell and support its subsequent attachment, and 

 an oval aperture is formed in the front part of the upper membrane. 

 The cell is then perfect, the animal communicates direct with the 

 surrounding medium, the statoblasts are soon developed and the struc- 

 ture of the cell becomes gradually more solid. Specimens of the Mem- 

 hranipora were also exhibited ; the species appears to be common in all 

 the brackish waters of the Sunderbunds. 



