GONOTHYR^EA HYALINA. 185 



texture, with nearly parallel sides for two-thirds of their 

 length, and then tapering off to the base, borne on ringed 

 pedicels, the rim cut into numerous shallow denticles of 

 castellated form, slightly indented at the top ; GONO- 

 THEC.E axillary, irregularly ovate, flattened at the top, 

 and supported on a ringed stalk. 

 Height about 2 inches. 



I PLACE this fine species provisionally in the genus Gono- 

 thyraea. The reproduction has not been traced ; but, from 

 the structure of the capsule, I have little doubt that this 

 will prove to be its right position. It is difficult to give 

 a concise, and at the same time accurate, description of the 

 form of the gonotheca; it is long, truncate above and 

 tapering below, straight on one side and curved outwards 

 on the other. 



The ramification is irregular and luxuriant ; branches are 

 given off at each of the slight flexures of the stem, but they 

 vary much in length and complexity ; their growth is erect, 

 so that the shoots are comparatively narrow and slender. 



A very striking feature of the species is the remarkably 

 tender and hyaline character of the branches and of the 

 extremities of the main shoots, which are of a most 

 delicate whiteness. 



There is very great variation in the length of the pedi- 

 cels supporting the hydrothecffi, the number of rings 

 ranging from 4 or 6 to nearly 20. The calycles are large 

 and very graceful in their proportions. 



Hab. Profusely investing Tubularia, Halecium halecinum, 

 &c. from Shetland, and, I believe, from deep water. I am 

 indebted for my specimens to Mr. Jeffreys, who has so 

 energetically and thoroughly explored the Shetland seas 

 with the dredge, and who has not forgotten his brother 

 naturalists while attending to his own special department 

 of the science. 



