168 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



LUCERNARIA CAMPANULATA. 



THIS beautiful zoophyte is about an inch in height, 

 of a uniform liver-brown colour , aiid is usually found 

 upon sea-weed near low-water mark, to which it ad- 

 heres by a circular disc, above which there is a deep 

 stricture or short peduncle. The disc or basis is 

 strengthened internally by a delicate cartilaginous 

 lamina. The margin of the oral expansion is some- 

 what thickened, and divided into eight equal arms, 

 furnished with a tuft of numerous short tentacula, 

 each of which terminates in a glandular extremity of 

 a brighter colour than the rest of the body. The in- 

 terior is hollowed like the blossom of a flower, and in 

 the centre is a square, extensible, and projecting 

 mouth, which opens into a loose, thin, plaited, ex- 

 tensible bag, constituting the stomach of this elegant 

 production. 



The Lucernaria is very hardy, and consequently not 

 difficult to preserve alive ; it is seen to be almost con- 

 stantly in a state of expansion, and does not contract 

 except when very rudely handled. Although gene- 

 rally found adherent to sea- weeds, the Lucernarise 

 can swim with some rapidity in the water by alternate 

 dilatations and contractions of the body. When in a 



