Microscopical Society of Victoria. 
31 
the polypidom for a few minutes in diluted liquor potass®, after¬ 
wards agitating it in pure water to get rid of the remains of 
animal matter. 
Every species of Aglaophenia which I have seen has two sarco- 
thecse on the stem, near the base of each pinna, and A . parvula 
and an English species differing little from it (A. pluma ?) have, 
in addition, a single small one on the pinnae, near the base. These 
cauline sarcothec®, which are similar to the laterals, caused me 
considerable perplexity on my first examination of these forms, 
as, in Mr. Hincks’ 44 British Iiydroid Zoophytes,” it is repeatedly 
stated that in Aglaophenia the nematophores are appendages of 
the hydrotheca only , this being the principal characteristic by 
which the genus is there distinguished from Plumularia. 
The name “ Aglaophenia ” is applied in this paper to all such 
forms as would be included under it in Mr. Hincks , classification. 
A. Thompsoni , and probably several other species here described, 
would come under the genus Halicornia, Busk, as modified by 
Mr. Allman; but as the gonangia are in most cases absent, it is 
more convenient to follow the older system, and class them as 
Aglaophenia ?. 
A. superba. n. sp. Plate XIII, fig. 4. 
Polypidom irregularly branched, pinnate, about six or eight 
inches in height; pinn® close, long, straight, ascending, sub¬ 
alternate, a pair to each internode. Hydrothec® set at an angle of 
of about 60°, upper part somewhat bent upwards from the pinna; 
is separated from the anterior nematopliore by the constriction mentioned 
above. There is also a slight constriction on the under side of the calycle, 
near the proximal end, with wrinkles proceeding from it partly across the 
cell and the pinna. The corbula, however, is tho most remarkable feature 
of tho hydrosoma. It consists of four or five pairs of broad leaflets, lobed at 
the margins, those adjacent being united to each other by tho lobes, leaving 
the interstices open ; a very large lobe is near the base of each leaflet, on the 
distal side. The edges of the leaflets may be serrated with nematophores or 
free from them, and on the upper part the nematophores aro not confined to 
the margins, but are scattered over the surface, usually, however, being 
arranged in two or three short linear series. Below the largo lobe of each 
leaflet there is a deep sinus, in which is seated a hydrotheca, resembling 
those on the ordinary pinna), except in tho absence of the anterior sarco- 
theca. The gonangial pinna bears a single liydrothoca below' the corbula. 
If undescribcd, I would propose for this species the name of A. heterocarpa. 
