Art. XXVII.—On the New Zealand Sertularians.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 5, 1872, Page 256

Art. XXVII.—On the New Zealand Sertularians. By Capt. F. W. Huttok, C.M.Z.S. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 20th October, 1872.] Family Sertularidæ. Hydrosoma fixed, plant-like, horny, variously branched; polypites hydraform, sessile, protected by hydrothecæ, and connected by a cænosarc, never terminal; reproductive organs contained in horny deciduous cells scattered over the hydrosoma. Genus Sertularia, Linnæus. Hydrosoma variously branched; hydrothecæ alternate or paired, biserial, urceolate. Sertularia Johnstoni. Sertularia johnstoni, Gray, “Dieff. N.Z.,” II., p. 294. Hydrosoma lax, spreading, dichotomously or sub-pinnately branched, pale brown. Hydrothecæ distant, short, alternate; aperture with two blunt teeth. Ovarian cells ovate, transversely wrinkled, truncated at the top. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) Common. Sertularia Sub-Pinnata. sp. nov. Hydrosoma lax, erect, dichotomously or sub-pinnately branched, reddish brown. Hydrothecæ distant, alternate, ovate with two or three rather acute teeth. Ovarian cells—? Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) Sertularia Delicatula. sp. nov. Hydrosoma lax, slender, erect, dichotomously branched, pale yellowish brown. Hydrothecæ distant, alternate; aperture with two blunt teeth on

the outer side, and an acute recurved tooth on the inner side. Ovarian cells ovate, transversely wrinkled, with an acutely toothed crown. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) Sertularia Monilifera. sp. nov. Hydrosoma strong, erect, dichotomously branched; pale brown. Hydrothecæ alternate, crowded, tubular, the upper half slightly recurved; arranged in several rows on the main stems, but in two rows on the branches; aperture entire, or with two obtuse teeth. Ovarian cells ovate, with strong moniliform cross ribs, and with an entire edged tubular crown. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) On shells. Sertularia Simplex. sp. nov. Hydrosoma short, simple or rarely branched, erect; pale yellowish brown. Hydrothecæ distant, alternate, ovate; aperture sinuated. Ovarian cells ovate, transversely wrinkled, with a toothed crown. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) Sertularia Fusiformis. sp. nov. Hydrosoma lax, simple or sparingly branched, rather large. Hydrothecæ alternate, rather close, long; aperture obliquely truncated, and with two rounded teeth on the outer side. Ovarian cells fusiform, large, smooth, pointed at the apex. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) On Fuci. Common. Sertularia Bispinosa. Dynamene bispinosa, Gray, “Dieff. N.Z.” II., 294. Hydrosoma long, lax, sparingly dichotomously branched, pale brown. Hydrothecæ opposite, tubular; aperture obliquely truncated, and with two strong teeth on the outside. Ovarian cells urceolate, smooth, with a small tooth on each side at the top. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) On shells, etc., abundant. Sertularia Abietinoides. Dynamene abietinoides, Gray, l.c. II., 294. Hydrosoma erect, pinnately branched; pale brown. Hydrothecæ crowded, sub-opposite, tubular, slightly incurved; aperture surrounded with about five acute teeth. Ovarian cells urceolate, smooth, with a long blunt process on each side at the top. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) Abundant.

Genus Thuiaria, Fleming. Hydrosoma variously branched. Hydrothecæ biserial, adnate, or imbedded in the substance of the stem and branches. Thuiaria Articulata. S. articulata, Pall., Elench. 137? T. articulata, Johnst., “Brit. Zooph.,” p. 84? Hydrosoma thick, erect, pinnately branched; branches alternate; pale brown. Hydrothecæ alternate, ovato-tubular, slightly curved; aperture truncated, entire. Ovarian cells—? not seen. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) A single specimen only. Thuiaria Zealandica. T. zealandica, Gray, l.c., II. 214. “Pale brown, erect, branches oppositely pinnate. Hydrothecæ small, exactly opposite, triangular; aperture truncated, with a small central tooth.” New Zealand. (Dr. Sinclair.) I have seen no specimens. Genus Antennularia, Lamark. Hydrosoma variously branched; branches clothed with hair-like verticillate branchlets. Hydrothecæ small, sessile, campanulate, unilateral. Antennularia Antennina. S. antennina, Linn., Syst. 1310. A. antennina, Johnst., “Brit. Zooph.,” p. 86. Hydrosoma strong, erect, sub-pinnately branched; branchlets numerous. Hydrothecæ with intermediate cellules. Ovarian cells—? Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) A. single specimen only. Genus Plumularia, Lamark. Hydrosoma simple or branched, the branches pinnate; hydrothecæ small, sessile, unilateral. Plumularia Pennatula. S. pennatula, Ell. & Sol., Zooph., 56. P. pennatula, Johnst.,“Brit. Zooph.,” p. 94. Hydrosoma simple, or sparingly branched, formed by a single tube; branches alternately closely pinnate; brown or reddish-brown. Hydrothecæ approximated, seated in the axil of a long incurved spine; aperture unequally crenated. Ovarian cells large, sub-cylindrical, stalked, with numerous transverse strongly denticulated ribs, situated on the inner side of the branches. Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) Common.

Plumularia Banksii. P. banksii, Gray, “Dieff. N.Z.,” II., 294. Hydrosoma irregularly branched, composed of several tubes; branches alternately closely pinnate; pinnæ leaning to one side; reddish-brown. Hydrothecæ approximated, seated in the axil of a double incurved spinous process; aperture with an obtuse tooth on each side. Ovarian cells—? Lyall Bay. (F.W.H.) A single specimen only.