36 LAREDO . 



Genus LAR, Gosse. 



Der. Lar, a household god. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. Polypites fusiform, sessile, with 

 two tentacula springing from the base of a bilabiate pro- 

 boscis, developed on a creeping and anastomosing filiform 

 stolon* ; reproduction unknown. 



WE require further information before anything can be 

 said with certainty of this extraordinary form. It has 

 only occurred in Mr. Gosse's aquarium, and its reproduc- 

 tive phase has not been observed. 



LAR SABELLARUM, Gosse. 



Transactions of the Linn. Soc. xxii. 113, tab. xx. 



Woodcut, fig. 2. 



POLYPITES about ^ inch in height, very slender towards 

 the base, enlarging above and terminating in a head- 

 like lobe, which is separated by a constriction from 

 the rest of the body; mouth furnished with two pro- 

 minent lips; tentacula long and muricated ; the ADHE- 

 RENT BASE a loose network of slender threads. 



Mr. GOSSE describes the polypites as bearing " a most 

 ludicrously close resemblance to the human figure, and as 

 closely imitating certain human motions." They were 

 " incessantly bowing and tossing about their arms in the 

 most energetic manner/' Certainly if the figure from 

 which our woodcut is copied be not exaggerated, a Larite 

 colony must strikingly resemble a company of excited 

 gymnasts. 



* This adherent base is probably enclosed in a delicate polypary ; but there 

 is no mention of it in Gosse's description. 



