Parasitical Connection of hathrda Squamdria, 45 



tube, which, prolonged, seems to form the mouth, of a square 

 shape, projecting in the centre of the arms. 



Lucernaria auricula can move about at will, but has appa- 

 rently not much power for distant excursions, and little in- 

 clination to roam. Fixed by means of its stalk, which is 

 presumed to act as a sucker, on the leaf of a sea- weed in some 

 sheltered pool near the lowest tide-mark, it escapes its ene- 

 mies, I know not how ; for it is the most helpless of creatures, 

 without weapons of offence or defence. It catches little ani- 

 malcules brought within its reach by the tide or their own 

 destiny ; and, for this purpose, the tentacula are widely dis- 

 played, and no sooner have they felt the prey, than they in- 

 stantly contract, envelope it in their joint embrace, and carry 

 it to the mouth. Lamarck says, that the globules at the tips 

 of the filaments or tentacula are suckers ; and if the obser- 

 vation is correct, it is obvious that this structure must enable 

 them to retain living prey with great additional obstinacy. ; 



This Lucernaria is, I believe, a rare animal on our coasts, 

 of which it was first ascertained to be a native by Mr. Mont- 

 agu, who took it on the coast of Devonshire, and gave a 

 figure and description of it in the ninth volume of the Lin- 

 nean Transactions, In the edition of Pennanfs British Zoo- 

 logy published in 1812, there is an account of it borrowed 

 from Montagu's paper, but erroneous in many respects. 

 Dr. Fleming's description, in his history of British Animals, 

 is, however, evidently original. He says, the species is found 

 on different parts of the coast. The colour, according to him, 

 is " brownish : " according to Montagu, it is variable ; and this 

 may, with proper limitation, be correct, for our specimen was 

 of a fine transparent red. It was taken in Berwick Bay. 



Lucernaria belongs to the class Radiata, order y^calepha 

 Cuvier, Mollia of Lamarck. 



George Johnston. 

 Berwick-upon-Tweed, Nov, 10. 1831. 



Art. VIII. On the Parasitical Connection of Lathrce^a Squamaria, 

 and the peculiar Structure of its subterranean Leaves, Read 

 at the Linnean Society in November, 1829. 



Our readers will remember that in Vol. II. p. 105. Mr. 

 Bowman, in noticing certain differences in habit and external 

 organs which he had found to obtain in specimens of this 

 interesting plant procured from, or observed in, various 

 localities, incidentally announced his having discovered its true 



