Phmddri^Caf/mr^^^ 



499 



Ascidia conchilcga. It is of a white colour, and very delicate ; 

 expanding like a fine feather* and rising from I in. to 4 in. in 

 height. The main staj^k ^always simple, and the branches 

 or pinnae are generally so j but sometimes they become com- 

 pound. They are always opposite; and, instead of being 

 arched, they bend inwards, so as to render the general form 

 of the coralline concave on a front view : aft appearance pro- 

 duced by their originating, not from the sides, but from the 

 anterior face of the stem. The stem "itself is straight or 

 slightly bent* tubular, [jointed, pellucid, filled with a granular 

 fluid matter ; and, in which it differs from its congeners, bear- 

 ^^^<^^^ ing cells, there being 



always one at the 

 base and between the 

 insertion of the pin- 

 nae, and generally 

 another on the na- 

 ked interval between 

 them. . Between the 

 cells there is a series 

 of minute tubular or 

 tooth-like cells, visi- 

 ble only with a high 

 magnifier. The ova- 

 rian vesicles are pro- 

 duced in summer: 

 they are stalked, 

 shaped like a pear 

 "or vase, solitary, scat- 

 tered, and always 

 originating at the base of a polype cell. The little polypes 

 were visible within their cups ; but, although kept iii fresh 

 sea-water, they never ventured to protrude their tentacula, 

 or to relax themselves sufficiently to permit their being 

 described Mg abiw ihuom _ 91b jgnimial e 9fBfartsqfflBD^*rii*fcf# 



The specific name, so far as I am aware, sins against no 

 rule of nomenclature ; and I have a peculiar pleasure in 

 affixing to so elegant a species the Christian name of the lady 

 to whose pencil the reader is indebted for the present series 

 of illustrations [begun in Vol. V. p. 43.] : and if he has taken 

 any interest in them, or shall find them of any service in 

 his researches, he will not grudge me my pleasure ; far less 

 will he attempt to rob the lady of the compliment, such as 

 it is, and which has often been bestowed where it was less 



merite**^ ymtew C psh 

 Berwick ujxrn 7\wah Aug 



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