Tubularia indlvisa. 511 



indeed, as well as a fondness for new names, not unfrequently 

 swell the list of genera and species. In Rhinocarpus, we are 

 told, the stamens are alternately sterile ; a knowledge of its 

 fruit appears still to be a desideratum. 



Remarks on Tubularia indlvisa. — A few days since I met 

 with an unusually large specimen of Tubularia indlvisa. I 

 found it in a pool at low water, at one of our spring tides. — 

 I waited until the hole was dry round its circumference, in 

 order to ascertain if anything were growing in a place so well 

 adapted for delicate animals to live in, undisturbed ; for how- 

 ever rough the sea may be, the water in this pool, which is 

 about ten feet deep, is comparatively quiet. I need hardly 

 say how delighted I was to find about twenty clusters of these 

 animals growing round the circumference of the pool, at about 

 four feet from the surface. I had only time to strip and pro- 

 cure two clusters, before the tide returned, and I was obliged 

 to make a hasty retreat. I have been six times since, (a dis- 

 tance of seven miles), to the same place, and although I chose 

 the lowest tides, this hole has been uncovered but once, and 

 then I procured several groups of this Polypus, leaving plenty 

 to keep up the stock. 



When 1 first found them (in May) they were evidently in 

 flower, if I may use the expression; for the specimens wiiich 

 I have since obtained, are not half the size of those which I 

 sent to you, although I observed no difference when I first 

 saw them. 



I am of opinion that the specimens which I sent to you 

 (from the river Dart) are dwarf specimens of this Tubularia; 

 their small size being accounted for by the iriction to which 

 they are exposed, as they were found growing on the chains 

 of the floating bridge. I mean to dredge the river Dart, in 

 order to satisfy myself if there are any larger specimens ad- 

 hering to the stones in the neighbourhood of the chains. — 

 This Tubularia is by far the most beautiful of the Polypife- 

 rce; it is figured in Ellis's Corals, but so imperfectly as hard- 

 ly to be recognized. The first specimens that I procured, I 

 took home in ajar of sea water; but as I could not imitate 

 the tide, they began to droop in two days, before I could do- 

 mesticate them, as I have done the Caryophillia and several 

 Actinl<e. Their heads fell off on the second day, leaving a 

 thin film surrounding the top of the tube. On the third day 

 this film increased in size ; and on the fourth a small red sub- 

 stance was seen growing in the pink liquor with which the 

 tube was filled. On the fifth day this increased in size, and 

 put on the shape of the first body, but smaller. On the se- 

 venth day it burst the film ; and on the eighth a perfect To- 



