EEPOET ON THE POLYZOA. 
113 
Yar. a, ccespitosa (PL XXVII. fig. 6). 
(?) Retepora tessellata, Hincks, Macgilliv. 
Character. — Zoarium a globose tuft about 1"‘5 in diameter, constituted of intricately 
contorted meandriniform folds ; the oval fenestras as 
wide as or wider than the trabeculae ; the dorsal surface 
uneven, no raised vibices, but instead a depressed line 
marking out distinct areolae. Zooecia very indistinct, 
surface glistening and uneven, or sometimes granular. 
Orifice orbicular, widely sinuated in front. Peristome 
even with the surface. Ooecia conspicuous, transparent, 
shining, smooth, very slightly depressed in front, 
without either fissure or stigma. Anterior avicularia 
rostriform, mandible triangular, acute, or like a shark’s 
tooth, pointing forw r ards and downwards, or nearly 
horizontally ; dorsal avicularia very irregularly distri- 
buted, crowded in some parts and absent in others ; mandible triangular, pointed. Oper- 
culum horse-shoe shaped. 
Habitat. — Simon’s Bay, Cape of Good Hope. 
Yar. b. pubens (PL XXVIII. fig. 3). 
Character. — Zoarium of very lax habit, composed of compressed branches, which 
anastomose very irregularly, forming wide irregular meshes, rather than fenestra), of all sizes 
and of an elongated rhomboidal form. Zooecia urceolate, flattened 
in front and usually presenting a large rostriform avicularium. Mouth 
orbicular, with a wide sinus in front, and sometimes in the younger 
cells a little notch on each side. Surface generally finely granular, 
the granulations having the form of minute cones. Dorsal surface 
areolated, showing the outlines of the zooecia, but no raised vibices, 
and in the centre of each area is a minute immersed avicularium, 
besides which are numerous prominent small avicularia, with man- 
dibles of the same form as those of the anterior rostriform ones. 
Ooecia unknown. Operculum horse-shoe shaped. 
Habitat. — Off Simon’s Bay, Cape of Good Hope. 
Fig. 21. — Retepora tessel- 
. . 1 1 f> tote var. pubens. 
As this peculiar form is represented by only a single small frag- 
ment, covered with the acerose spicules of a sponge, which I at first mistook for a natural 
pubescence, the name was applied accordingly. Though not in the sense originally 
intended, the name is still to some extent justified by the beautiful granulation of the 
surface, the character of which is clearly shown in the fragments of the general epitheca 
(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. — PART XXX. — 1884.) Gg 15 
Fig. 20 . — Retepora tessellata var. ccespitosa. 
