EEPOET ON THE POLYZOA. 
89 
Habitat. — Station 162, off East Moncceur Island, Bass Strait, 38 fathoms, sand and 
shells. 
[New Zealand, Colenso.] 
This fine species is at once recognisable by its very peculiar oral chitinous armature, 
which is quite unlike that of any other species. It is remarkable also for the extreme 
regularity in size and disposition of the areolation, which is for the most part strictly 
rhomboidal, but sometimes, as in other cases, becomes hexagonal. In the perfect state 
the entire surface is covered with a thin epitheca which renders it quite smooth, but 
when this is removed the aspect is very finely granular. A curious circumstance should 
be noticed, viz., that in many instances, throughout the whole zoarium, not a single 
avicularium will be found, so that after examining several specimens of the Challenger 
collection, I had met with none at all, and had concluded, therefore, that the species 
was altogether unarmed ; but upon examining some fine specimens from New Zealand, 
where they were procured by Mr. Colenso, to my surprise I found that it did possess 
very large vicarious ones. So that the name “ simplex ” I had applied to the form 
became far less appropriate, though it is perhaps partially justified by the extreme regula- 
rity and simplicity of the sculpture. Another peculiarity, so far as I am aware, of the 
present species, is the fine annulation of the chitinous tubes connecting the segments. 
(b) nodatcB. 
(3) Salicornaria variabilis, n. sp. (PI. XII. figs. 3 and 9). 
Character. — Zoarium several inches high, composed of 
elongated unequal intern odes, usually incrassated about 
the middle, and varying much in diameter ; joints nodular. 
Areas rhomboidal, truncato-hexagonal, pyriform or hexa- 
gonal ; interior ridges inconspicuous or absent ; surface 
smooth. Orifice crescentic, with a prominent lower lip 
and well-marked internal articular denticles below. Oper- 
culum crescentic, with a strongly marked granulated 
crescentic areola, 0"’005 x ’003 ; trabeculse short and 
small. Avicularia vicarious, mandible subtriangular, with 
an acuminate membranous point and a central foramen 
0"-007 x -006. 
Habitat. — Station 304, lat. 46° 53' S., long. 75° 12' W., 
45 fathoms, green sand. Station 314, lat. 51° 35' S., long. 
65° 39' W., 70 fathoms, sand. Station 149b, Kerguelen 
Island, 25 fathoms, volcanic mud. 
(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. — PART XXX. — 1884.) 
Fig. 7 . — Salicornaria variabilis. 
a, Chitinous areolar filament ; b, mandible. 
Ggl2 
