02 WUT1SH TUNICATA. 



thence they assume the shape of one of the radii of the 



stars. 



" In several of these stars I have observed a smaller 

 radius, as it were, endeavouring to 'get into the circle ; 

 and notwithstanding their seeming connection in the 

 center as one animal, I believe I shall soon be able to 

 shew you, in a drawing from the microscope, that 

 each radius is a distinct animal by itself." 



Borlase's account of this discovery is as follows : 

 " The alcyonium is of a middle nature between the 

 herbaceous and horny submarines; its substance 

 fleshy, and sometimes hard even to cartilaginous; 

 shapeless at times ; sometimes tubular ; generally in- 

 habited by animalcules. Dr. Schlosser . . . dis- 

 covered one of a curious make dredged up in Falmouth 

 Harbour, September 18, 1755. The alcyonium was 

 brown and thin, and was the <j round in which the 

 animals had placed themselves in ranks, each in a rose- 

 like shape, making a kind of border round the stem of 

 an old large fucus. [See fig. 125f/, p. 67.] The natural 

 size of the~flowers . . . may be seen (fig. i) ; one is mag- 

 nified (fig. n) ; each rose had from five to twelve, but 

 more generally eight leaves, each leaf an aperture in it 

 (a fig. n) which is supposed to be a mouth; in the 

 center there is an opening larger than the rest, within 

 which, when the inclosed animal was alive, something 

 like fibres were perceived to move; whether this 

 creature extends those fibres to lay hold of the food 

 which the waves throw in its way, must be referred 

 to further enquiry." 



Dr. Borlase states in a foot-note that the specimen 

 was shown to him the day after it was dredged, and 

 was " supposed to be a non-descript."] 



2. Botryllus rubens Alder & Hancock. 

 (Plate LXI, figs. 3-7 ; and fig. 122 in text.) 



(?) Botryllus DALYELL Rare and Rein. Anim. Scotl. II 

 [1848], p. 167, pi. xli, f. 1. 



