724 



MB. Or. BUSK ON RECENT 



to those in the parent-stock. Tlie body contains a large number 

 of grannies, and also masses of what appear to have been fully 

 formed spermatozoa. AVhether this is the male of the above 

 form, or another, is, of course, an open question ; but the bristles 

 certainly correspond. 



On Eecent Species of Heteropora. By GtEobge Busk, 

 F.B.S., r.L.s. 



[Eead June 19, 1879.] 

 (Plate XV.) 



In the June number of the ' Journal of the Eoyal Microscopical 

 Society,' Mr. "W. Waters, r.Gr.S., has described a species of 

 Ileteropora from the seas of Japan to which he has given the 

 name oi 11. pelliculata \ he also mentions a second species from 

 Australia under the appellation of Ileteropora cervicornis, consi- 

 dering it to be identical with the Flethopora cervicornis of 

 M. d'Orbigny *. 



Till the appearance of Mr. Waters's interesting communication 

 no species belonging to the genus seems to have been published. 

 The occurrence, therefore, of the above two forms, belonging to 

 a genus of which we had previously no species more recent than 

 the Crag, and extending back to the Cretaceous period, is of par- 

 ticular interest. 



My object in this brief communication is to indicate the exis- 

 tence at the present time of what may probably be a third species 

 referable to the genus. 



Some few years back Prof. Nicholson was good enough to 

 furnish me with some very fine specimens of a recent Heteropora 

 which he had received from New Zealand, and of which it was 

 long since my intention to have furnished an account. This 

 intention, however, has not hitherto been carried out ; and I have 

 thus been anticipated by Mr. Waters in the announcement of tlie 

 fact of the present existence of the ancient genus Heteropora. 



The New-Zealand species in most respects appears to bear a 

 very strong resemblance to the Japanese form, aud I am by no 

 means satisfied that they are not specifically the same. As, how- 

 ever, there are one or two points in which, to judge from Mr. 



* Pal. Fran^aise, pi. 799. figs. 4, 5. 



