476 



Zoological Notices. 



from any of the other polypes with which I am acquainted. 

 From the cell an octangular tube projects, in which the 

 animal is seen suspended, as if floating in a medium of greater 

 density than itself. This tube is perfectly transparent, and 

 the roots, or feet, of the polype are seen suspended from the 

 body, but not touching the substance of the Alcyonium. 

 Around the mouth are the eight feelers, answering to the 

 eight sides of the cell: these feelers the animal has the power 

 of elongating or contracting at pleasure. I have ventured to 

 describe the animal in its expanded state by the accompanying 

 diagrams {Jig. 57.) : the dark lines are the polypes, as seen 

 through the wall of the transparent tube. 



Natural size. 



a, The cell magnified, b, The polype expanded and floating in its membranous tube, c, The 

 animal as it appears in the tube, showing only a side view. (There are eight feet, as well a3 

 eight feelers : only three seen.) d, The animal with its feelers expanded, e, Front view 

 of the animal. /, Ditto with the feelers at their utmost elongation. g, A representation 

 of the Alcydnium, as seen alive, and of its natural size. 



I am pretty nearly convinced that this Alcyolnium is found 

 among the beautiful fossil zoophytes occasionaly met with 

 in the transition lime series of our neighbourhood ; and, if I 

 mistake not, there are two, if not three, specimens of it in 

 ,the Table of Fossil Corals, which I exhibited at the Zoo- 

 logical Society a short time since.* 



I remember, about two years ago, seeing a description, in 

 Loudon's Magazine, of Ophiura bracteata and O. neglecta : 

 the former was considered a fine specimen at 4J in. in 

 diameter, if I recollect rightly ; and they were found in Scot- 

 land. I have several of O. bracteata, 6 in. and 7 in. in dia- 

 meter ; and of O. neglecta (I believe I have sent a specimen). 

 I have one specimen 10 in. across, and many 8 in. I 

 merely mention this fact, to show the mildness of the climate 

 in the south of Devon, if temperature has any influence 

 over their growth. It is certainly a remarkable fact, that the 

 marine productions of Devonshire are noted and prized for 

 their perfection or their size. 



In the autumn of 1835, my friend Mr. H. Glossop sent to 



* This beautiful table is now in the Adelaide Street Gallery. — Ed. 



