HALECIUM LABROSUM. 225 



stems are much more slender than those of H. halecinum, 

 the ramification is more irregular and intricate, and there 

 is none of the stiffness and formality which characterize 

 that species. 



H. Beanii seems to be generally dioecious ; but the two 

 sexes are sometimes mingled on the same shoot. The 

 female capsule contains from 4 to 6 ova, arranged in a row, 

 which are matured into white, somewhat flask-shaped 

 planulae. This species is commonly about two inches in 

 height, but occasionally rises to five or six. 



Hal). On shells &c., and very often parasitic on other 

 zoophytes, from moderate depths to deep water; common 

 and widely distributed. 



4. H. LABROSUM, Alder. 



Ann. N. II. (ser. 3) iii. 354, pi. xii. figs. 1-3. 



Plate XLIY. fig. 1. 



- 



ZOOPHYTE irregularly branched, and of a somewhat flaccid 

 habit, purplish when fresh, attached by numerous fibres; 

 STEM composed of several tubes ; the larger branches also 

 compound, generally dividing dichotomously, pinnate; 

 pinna alternate, jointed, often bearing pinnules, and 

 more or less ringed transversely above each joint ; HYDRO- 

 THECyE borne singly or in pairs below the joints, mode- 

 rately deep, much expanded and everted at the margin, 

 jointed and ringed at the base ; GONOTHEC.E (male) ovate, 

 broad below and obtusely pointed above, of a purplish- 

 brown colour, set on a short pedicel of about two rings ; 

 (female) ovate, broad below and tapering upwards, cleft 

 at the summit. 



THIS fine species is one of Mr. Alder's numerous additions 

 to the list of British zoophytes. It may be readily dis- 

 tinguished from H. halecinum, even if the reproductive 



Q 



