1874. J 205 [Brewer. 



Genus Aplysina Nardo. 

 Evenor f Duch. et Mich. Aplysina (pars) Schm. 



A number of new species from Florida are described in this genus, 

 which is distinguished by the regularity of the net-work of the flat- 

 tened fibres, and their tendency to unite and form hexagonal cells, 

 remotely resembling those of some corals (Porites). 



Aplysina aurea Hyatt. 



Gamboge yellow when living, form fistulose. Skeleton remarkably 

 delicate, more irregular than is usual. 



Aplysina prsetexta Hyatt. 



This has a peculiar flattened form, with notable differences between 

 the under and upper sides, and very long cells in the skeleton. 



Aplysina gigantea Hyatt. 



This has the form of an open cone, or goblet-shape, without a ped- 

 icle, and the cells much more regular in size, and angular in shape, 

 and may be selected as the type of the genus. 



Aplysina cellulosa Hyatt. 



Spongia cellulosa Esper. 



This well known form will serve for a comparison since it possesses 

 in a remarkable degree the generic characteristics. 



Aplysina serophoba Nardo. 



Identified with Schmidt's type. 



Dr. T. M. Brewer called attention to four skins of herons 

 obtained by purchase. 



These represented two forms which embody one of the puzzling 

 questions of our ornithology. The birds in the blue and brown 

 plumage had been originally described as A. rufescens or A. rvfa, 

 and. the white birds as a distinct species, A. Pealii. Mr. Audubon 

 was led, by his investigations in Florida, to the conclusion that the 

 white birds are only the young or immature form of the A. rufa. 

 To demonstrate this he caused some of the young birds to be kept in 

 confinement. One of these lived to be three years old, but died still 

 in the white plumage. Dr. Gambel of Philadelphia, a young and 

 promising ornithologist, whose early death was one of the greatest of 

 losses to science, followed with other investigations. He found the 

 brown and blue birds having young in like plumage, and the white 



