134 



HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSSIF. 



this zoophyte is not usually branched. Owing to the 

 uncommon transi^arency of the cells each polyp 

 may be observed, whether it expands or not (fig. 8i). 

 Among the Campanulariae proper, C. vcrticiHata, 

 dmnosa, syringa and voluhilis, may occasionally be 

 found ; diifnosa and syringa we are certain of, but 

 vcrticillata and vohibilis are so named because they 

 more resemble the two species so-called by Johnston. 

 All marine zoophytes appear to be liable to slight 

 variety, for this reason the two in question are 

 identified with Johnston's species. Alyconium digi- 

 tatiim, the common "dead men's fingers," will be 

 found either adhering to oysters or cast up among 

 the loose sea-weeds, and is chiefly on the Bonchurch 

 beach. Among Actinidse, A. crassicornis, coriacca, 

 mescmbryaiithemnm and Anthea ccretis may all be 

 collected; A. alba only at dead low water. The 

 Lucernariadse of the Isle of Wight were described 

 and figured in Science-Gossip (June, 1880) : it is 

 therefore unnecessary to go over the ground again. 

 This completes the hydroida which have absolutely 

 come before the notice of the writer ; possibly most 

 of the other genera might be detected with a more 

 systematic search. 



The polyzoa are just as abundant as the hydroids. 

 Tubiilipora patina \% plentiful at Bonchurch, but the 

 polyp has never, at least up to Johnston's time, been 

 detected. To the naked eye it has the appearance 

 of a slightly concave, silvery-white plate, firmly 

 attached to algse. T. hispida is also occasionally 

 washed ashore on the same beach. The bleached 

 thread-like clusters of Gemclla7-ia loriculata abound at 

 Yentnor. It is so constructed that each pair of cells 

 appeal's to spring from the one beneath. It is not 

 common to find a living polyp. It expands at some 

 distance from the cell, having a long stem beneath 

 the tentacular arrangements. Crisidia co7-nuta differs 

 from the Crisia genus, having cells only on one side, 

 and a long spine from the base of each cell. Crisia 

 ebitriica and denticiilata are both plentiful, but C. 

 acukata, well defined by the amber-coloured joints 

 between the cells, is exceedingly rare. N'otaiiria 

 biirsaria, the shepherd's-purse coralline, grows 

 attached to Ccramiitm rjd>r!ii?i and other seaweeds. 

 Cdlepora p2i7nicosa encrusts weed on the Bonchurch 

 beach with a thick calcareous membrane, but we 

 have never seen a polyp. The Lepralias are enough 

 to test the patience of Job, although it is unlikely 

 that the worthy gentleman ever suffered this particular 

 form of temptation. L. impkx, unicornis, ciliaia, 

 spifiifera, trispinosa, are among the species identified 

 at Ventnor. Many others we have probably over- 

 looked. 



Membranipora pilosa infests every pond, and is 

 plentiful all the year round. It assumes such a 

 variety of form that inexperienced collectors invari- 

 ably have the inclination to make several species from 

 the various forms. Cellularia reptans grows at the 

 roots of Laminaria, and a rare species, C. Hookcri, 



may be gathered at Bonchurch. The spines which 

 spring from some of the cells of the latter species 

 have a power of movement evidently dependent on 

 the polyp. The "bird's head" cellularia we have 

 never been able to find in the Isle of Witrht. Fhistra 

 foUacea and truncata are common enough, and a 

 curious zoophyte, called by Johnston Flustra hispida, 

 whfch is not a Flustra. From the fig. (see p. 87) it 

 would appear nearly allied to Alcyonidium or Sar- 

 cochitum, but is probably a separate genus. It is 

 very common at Ventnor, encrusting algce with a 

 rich, brown-coloured fleshy substance, which is one 

 of the finest of all zoophytes. The cells are larger, and 

 profusely armed with spines. The polyp protrudes 

 like a telescope, unfolding in an extraordinary manner, 

 and having at least thirty finely-ciliated tentacles. 

 The ovarian capsules are at times attached to the 

 spines ; at other periods none are visible. The 

 polyp is tenacious of life, and can be cut off the 

 flat frond of a Fucus with a sharp pen-knife, so as 

 to be sufficiently transparent for a thorough micro- 

 scopic observation. It will be found that in cutting 

 a section some polyps are killed, while others remain 

 vigorous. Those that are killed are forced to expand 

 at the moment they die, and remain permanently 

 exposed. This ought to be a useful hint for mounting 

 specimens. The sponge-like Alcyonidciim gclatinosiini 

 may be found at low tide about Steephill Bay, 

 Yentnor. Pedicellina echinala we have familiarly 

 dubbed "Nine-pins," because their occupation in 

 life appear'; to be knocking each other down. In 

 the course of this warlike proceeding the head fre- 

 quently is lost, leaving the living stem, from which 

 a fresh head is soon developed. Vcsicnlaria spinosa, 

 Boiverbankia imbricata, Valkeria pnstulosa, Farella 

 ripens, and Scrialaria lendigcra are all occasionally 

 met with at Yentnor. The rare Bcania mirabilis, 

 stated to grow in the Isle of Wight, we have never 

 been able to detect. 



LIST OF ASSISTING NATURALISTS. 



[Confinued.} , 



Cambridgeshire. 



Cambridge. Change of address. Mr. Albert Waters's 

 present address is Mill Road, Cambridge. 



Leicestershire. 



Leicester. John Hamson, treasurer of the Leicester 

 and Leicestershire Science Association, 67 Welford 

 Road, or " Daily Post " Office, Humberslone Gate, 

 Phanerogainic Botany ; and Geology. 



Yorkshire. 



Whitby. F. J. Mead, 12 Baxtergate. British 

 Bntterf.ies, as well as on collecting and preserving 

 the same ; correspondents please enclose a stamp. 



