360 Rev. T. Hincks on British Zoophytes, 



They are very vigorous in their movements. It is very interest- 

 ing to watch the little creatures manoeuvring their cells. Every 

 now and then, as if some common impulse stirred them, all the 

 polypes on a single pinna will move forward their cells, and the 

 frond close, like the Mimosa-leaf when touched. More com- 

 monly they are independent in their movements. A single cell 

 here and there will be seen in motion, while the rest remain 

 quiet. 



The mouth of the cell is furnished with the characteristic seta 

 of the family. When the cells are detached, the circular opening 

 near the base may easily be detected. 



The foregoing is a description of the simpler form of the zoo- 

 phyte. Eine, proliferous specimens occur in which the polypi- 

 dom is irregularly branched ; the pinnae are often trifid at their 

 extremities, and are sometimes themselves pinnate and much 

 prolonged. 



This beautiful production was dredged in Salcombe Bay, 

 Devon, profusely investing a bunch of sea-weed (PL XIV. figs. 5, 

 6,7,8). 



Pedicellina. 



Dr. Johnston records one species of Pedicellina (P. echinata) 

 as British ; stating at the same time that the P. gracilis of Sars 

 and the P. Belgica of Van Beneden * may be expected to be 

 found " on our coasts. The former has lately occurred to me at 

 Fleetwood. Fine and abundant specimens were procured from a 

 buoy that had been moored near that port. I am not aware that 

 an English locality for this species has been published ; but in 

 a paper in the Number of the i Annals ' for June 1845, it is de- 

 scribed by Mr. Goodsir and mentioned as occurring in Scotland. 

 I have figured the P. gracilis (PL XIV. fig. 9) . The most marked 

 character is the expansion of the stem towards the base. The 

 Pedicellina are amongst the most hardy of zoophytes. I trans- 

 ported specimens in a small bottle from the coast of Lancashire 

 to Exeter, a distance of 300 miles, and though I was unable to 

 renew the water, they lived with me after their long journey for 

 two or three days. At the end of that time they showed signs of 

 a disposition to get rid of their heads, — which is by no means a 

 suicidal act in a Pedicellina, — and were therefore at once secured 

 in Goadby's invaluable fluid ! 



I have also the pleasure of adding the P. Belgica to the list of 

 British Bryozoa. Van Beneden's description is as follows : — 

 " Tentacula twelve, equal in length, a little shorter than the 

 body : stem and pedicle smooth." I have recently found this 

 species at Ex mouth on weed in rock-pools, near low- water mark. 

 The small number of arms (eleven or twelve) and the freedom 



