280 



PROF. MARSHALL AND MR. G. H. FOWLER ON THE 



ends, but all show the truncation of the upper end of the rachis 

 that is so characteristic a feature of the genus Virgularia. 



The species approaches most closely to V. Lovenii, Kolliker, 

 of which only a single fragment, from Port Jackson, Australia, 

 has as yet been described # . 



In V. Lovenii the leaves are, however, much further apart (3-4 

 millim.) than in V. prolifem (1-2 millim.), and of smaller size ; the 

 autozooids also are less distinct from one another, and the siphono- 

 zooids are described and figured as arranged in irregular trans- 

 verse rows, while in V. prolifera the rows are very regular. 

 Kolliker' s figures t of V. Lovenii are even more unlike our spe- 

 cimens than is his description, so that we feel fairly confident 

 that the new species will prove to be a good one. 



The principal measurements of four of our specimens, including 

 the most divergent examples, are given in the following table : — 



Length of colony 



Length of stalk 



Length of rachis 



Length of lateral zooid stripe of 



lower end of rachis 



Length of rachis with immature 



leaves 



Length of rachis with developed 



leaves • ••• 



Length of upper end of rachis with 



small leaves 



Greatest, width of fealher 



Diam. of rachis in middle of length 



Diam. of stalk 



Diam. of terminal vesicle 



Diam. of axis, upper end 



Number of immature leaves in lower 



part of rachis 



Number of developed leaves 



Number of small leaves at top of 



rachis 



Greatest distance apart of leaves 



Number of polypes per leaf 



I [eight of largest leaf 



Ventral border of largest leaf 



a. 



b. 



c. 



d. 



243 



165 



170 



263 



25 



31 



45 



43 



218 



134 



125 



220 



27 



10 



15 



22 



110 



G3 



G5 



116 



7G 



58 



30 



80 



5 



3 



15 



2 



05 



7 



5 



12 



3 



2-2 



2-5 



45 



4-7 



4 



5 



6-5 



5 



9 



5 



17 



2x18 



l-3xl'l 



2x1-7 



2x1-7 



200 circa. 



150 circa. 



150 circa. 



220 circa. 



44 



32 



14 



45 



3 



3 



15 



3 



2 



2 



1-6 



2 



24 



22 



20 



30 



2-5 



3 



1-3 



4 



2-2 



3 



1-2 



5 



* Kolliker, op. cil. p. 201, and pi xiii. figs. 121, 122. 

 t Kollikcr, op. Oit. pi. xiii. figs. 121, 122. 



