Zoological Notices. 



4>75 



by the inner walls of the coral. The motions of the Cary- 

 ophilliaare more active than those of the generality of Polypi- 

 fera. My specimen has increased in size considerably during 

 the five years that I have kept it. I feed it, every month or 

 so, with a piece of oyster about the size of a pea. It seizes 

 the food with its feelers, and, after a short time, envelopes it 

 in its stomach. It continues in this state for two or three 

 days, when the indigestible matter is evacuated, and the animal 

 reassumes its usual size and appearance. This coral is found 

 in Teignmouth Bay, and in the neighbourhood of Torquay. 

 It is rather rare. I have sketched a hasty diagram of the 

 natural size of my specimens. Fig. 55. a, the coral ; b, the 

 55 



animal expanded, showing its double set of feelers on the 

 circumference. This is the appearance it presents, as seen by 

 night, three or four days after having been fed. On the coral, 

 at c, is seen a specimen of Pyrgoma anglicum Leack, 

 which is never, as far as I am aware, found, unless attached 

 to this coral. At all events, it has not been found in our 

 neighbourhood, unless accompanying the Caryophillia. I 

 have had many specimens of them : the coral I have often 

 seen without the Pyrgoma, but the latter never without being 

 attached to the coral. I have sent specimens to the Zoological 

 Society. 



I have lately examined several live specimens of Alcyo- 

 nium digitatum Linn. ; and, as its structure can be but im- 

 perfectly understood by Ellis's plate and description, I have 

 endeavoured to amend them. 



The substance or mass of this polypifer is marked through- 

 out in pentangular divisions, in the centre of each of which is 

 the cell of the animal. This cell is octangular, 

 or rather an octagon, with each side convex. 

 Fig. 56. shows a magnified view of the divisions 

 and the cells. When the animal is within the 

 cell, the above is the exact appearance; but, 

 when the animal is expanded in search of 

 food, its form is found to be very different 



