230 . UEVIF-WS. 



until the middle and next pair were nearly as long as the transverse diameter of the body ; the 

 other two pairs were much shorter. A touch with a pin broke short oft' two of these, proving 

 that they were very brittle, whence, and from their crystalline appearance, I infer their calca- 

 reous or siliceous nature. But while I was examining it I was surprised Jto observe a bundle 

 of filaments among the spines, and much resembling them, except that tl;cy were bent irregularly, 

 and slowly moved among themselves, while the spines were fixed. Lo! the bundle is gently 

 protruding, and presently the whole is withdrawn like lightning out of sight into what I can 

 no longer hesitate to call the oval cell. A simultaneous jerk in the contents of the cell set me 

 upon trying to make out the form of those, in which, notwithstanding the confusion of the 

 parts, I had already traced (or fancied) the body of an ascidian polype, doubly bent up, like 

 that of a Membranipora or Flicstra. By careful watching, during many protrusions and retractions, 

 I was enabled to make out this with sufficient distinctness; though some portiotis of the area 

 ■were still semiopaque, and therefore obscure. I could sec also an ample aperture on the surface 

 opposite to that at which I was looking; (viz. the adhering base, for as it was in a glass vessel, 

 I could apply my microscope only to the outside, and therefore only saw it through the glass to 

 which it had attached itself;) this aperture on the upper surface was excentral, and situated 

 on the half nearest the spinous end. Possibly this aperture was covered with a membrane, (like 

 that in Cellularia avicularia,) for I think that the bundle of tentacles were not protruded 

 through it, but through an orifice more terminal, yet still above the plane of the spines. The 

 body of the polype, of a horny yellow hue, was doubly bent to one side, and behind the angle 

 was an irregular transverse mass of deep red matter, and another small spot of the same was 

 a little on one side of the centre. These were all the remains of the scarlet substance left. 

 (See Fig. 3.) 



On the morning of the third day I found the polype perfectly formed and well expanded, a 

 circle of thirteen tentacles ; these were usually protruded in the form of a funnel, with the rim 

 so slightly everted as scarcely to entitle it to be called a bell, but now and then they were 

 momentarily spread out quite flat so as to make a beautiful plane star, the tips forming a 

 regular circle. I could now distinctly see the intestinal tube, which is inserted into the stomach 

 low down in the body, and proceeds nearly parallel with it to the aperture. The body of the 

 polype is considerably protruded from the cell, below the divergence of the tentacles. The 

 great circular aperture on the upper surface, appears to have a rim. (See Fig. 4.) 



June I8th. — A week old: no material alteration from last record, I found, however, the 

 next day a gemmule, represented at Fig. 5, which perfects the series. It was in a state inter- 

 mediate between Figs. 1 and 2. Its length is one-seventieth of an inch. The edges are pellucid,' 

 and have an appearance of radiating fibres. The redness is curdled, but not wholly separated. 

 This continued for several days, the red mass slowly concentrating; but no spines appeared; 

 and at length I fear it was broken accidentally; granular matter came out, leaving a glassy 

 cell attached to the side of the vessel. The species was probably Lepralia eoeeinea; but eight 

 spines are more than are ascribed to any of our species." 



His observations on Marine Vivaria are extremely interesting, and the idea 

 has lately been carried out with singular success in the Zoological Gardens, 

 Regent's Park, London. We have often indulged a hope of carrying out 

 some similar plan, but circumstances have hitherto stood in the way. 



The facts which Mr. Gosse has recorded in this volume are not confined 

 to one branch of Natural History, but embrace all that one may reasonably 

 expect to find illustrated at the sea-side. 



Many curious forms are now described for the first time, and numerous 

 additions made to our knowledge of the economy of others, and the descriptions 

 are aided by twenty-eight plates, several of them coloured. We regret that 

 we are unable to devote more space to this deeply interesting volume, which 

 we cordially recommend to our readers, whether living on the coast or else- 

 where. Those who have the opportunity may verify Mr. Gosse's observations^ 



