420 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, 
colonies with gonophores in all stages, from a mere swelling or 
knob of ceenosarc to the fully-developed gonophore, containing 
the oval-shaped embryos. Hitherto I have not observed the 
embryo when liberated from the sac, but from the figure given 
in the Manual of the Coelenterata, p. 53, it appears to be an 
elongated oval swimming by means of cilia, and very contractile, 
which eventually becomes pear-shaped, and which afterwards 
becomes attached and developes what is called the primitive 
polypite. This soon commences to send forth prolongations, 
and these by gemmation develope the polypites and other ap- 
pendages of the adult organism. 
Professor Allman in “ Ann. of Nat. Hist.” vol. XIII, p. 330, 
thus describes the species most closely resembling the specimen 
under notice :— 
“ Cordylophora lacustris.*—Polypidom horny, rooted by a 
creeping tubular fibre, alternately branched, branches cylindrical. 
Polypes developed at the extremities of the branches and consist- 
ing of an ovoid body prolonged anteriorly into a conical pro- 
jection which bears the mouth at its extremity, and behind which 
the body of the polyp is furnished with scattered filiform tenta- 
cula.” 
Its name is a rather unfortunate one for a New Zealand 
species, as in the first place we have no newts, and in the second 
fluviatilis would be more appropriate for the description of 
the habitat. However, when the Marine Hydrozoa come to be 
worked up in this country, I have no doubt but that this beau- 
tiful little species will be duly recognised and stand in the proper 
place with an appropriate name, and that the above title will be 
given as its equivalent. This is, as far as I am aware, the first 
record of this species south of the line, and adds another to the 
long list of species represented by identical forms in both the 
northern and southern hemispheres. In the Manual of the 
Ccelenterata it states that Cordylophora has been met with only 
in Denmark, Great’ Britain, Ireland, and North America. 
A. HAMILTON. 
MARATTIA FRAXINEA.—I have to record a new habitat for — 
this fern, which is fast becoming very rare, viz. Tryphena Har- — 
bour, Great Barrier Island, in dense bush. 
C. R. WINKELMAN. 
AUSTRALIAN PLANTS.—We have to thank the author, Baron 
F. von. Mueller, for a copy of his valuable “ Systematic census of 
Australian Plants,” Part I. The part issued deals with the 
Vasculares, viz., Flowering plants and Vascular Crytogams. 
To the non-scientific reader the work will appear to be a bare 
list of names, but to the systematic botanist it will prove a rich 
fund of information. All the plants known to occur in Australia 
—_~_ 
* Cordylon, a water-newt ; phore, a burden, 
