OPERCTJLAKELLA LACERATA. 195 



sparingly branched; HYDROTHEC^ on short ringed pe- 

 dicels, alternate, ovato-conical, the operculum composed 

 of deep, convergent segments ; GONOTHEC^E (female) 

 large, ovate, smooth, on short, ringed stalks, produced 

 near the calycles ; (male) subcylindrical. 

 Height, when mature, from ^ to 1^ inch. 



THIS species is commonly found in very humble guise, the 

 creeping stem sending up at intervals short, ringed stalks, 

 which bear a single calycle. In this state it occurs pro- 

 fusely on stones, shells, seaweeds, and other zoophytes. 

 I have a specimen of this form from Torbay, covering the 

 inner surface of a shell, in which the reproductive capsules 

 are produced on the creeping stolon amongst the calycles. 

 In its most highly developed state O. lacerata is either 

 bushy or of tall and slender growth ; its usual height is 

 about half an inch. 



The gonothecae are produced abundantly ; the female 

 are surmounted at a certain stage by a large and conspi- 

 cuous sac, enclosed in a thick gelatinous envelope, and 

 containing a brood of several planules*. The polypites 

 have about fourteen arms, are slender and graceful, and 

 extend themselves far beyond the top of the calycle. 



Hab. Between tide-marks and in moderate depths ; not 

 uncommon. St. Ives, Cornwall; Exmouth, in tufts of 

 Bowerbankia ; Ilfracombe ; Isle of Man ; Filey, Yorkshire 

 (T. H.) : Northumberland (J. A.): Morrison's Haven, Firth 

 of Forth, in profusion (T. S. W.): St. Andrew's (J. Reid): 

 Oban (T. H.): North of Ireland (Prof. W. Thomson). 



[Coasts of Belgium (Van Beneden).] 



* Dr. Wright was the first to describe the reproductive zooids. Vide 

 Edinb. New Phil. Journ. (N. S.) for Jan. 1850. 



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