98 NOTAMIID^. 



This is a charming species, and one of the collector's 

 treasures. Not that it is really rare, though from its 

 minuteness it readily escapes detection ; but the beauty of 

 its spinous cells and the singularity of their form make it 

 a general favourite. It is perhaps most easily obtained by 

 a careful search amongst the Laminaria-roots, at extreme 

 low-water mark. Over these it often creeps in great luxu- 

 riance, in company with Aetea anguina and other pygmy 

 forms. 



The polypide has about 20 tall and delicate tentacles, 

 forming a singularly graceful bell. It is of large size, and, 

 when fully expanded, projects very far beyond the ori- 

 fice, the body at such times only occupying about the 

 upper third of the cell. A long, straight oesophagus leads 

 from the pharynx to the stomach. The flexible portion 

 of the cell, which unrolls as the animal issues, is of un- 

 usual length. Amongst the marine Polyzoa, I know of 

 no polypide which excels it in beauty, unless it be that of 

 Flusti'ella hispida. 



Family V. — NotamiidaB. 



GEMELLAEiADiE (part.), Busk. 



ZocEciA in pairs, each jJdir arising by tubular prolonga- 

 tions from the pair next but one below it ; at each 

 bifurcation a new series of cells intercalated into the 

 branches. 



The remarkable structure of the zoarium which dis- 

 tinguishes Notamia bursaria, entitles it to stand as the 

 type of a separate family. It has certainly no close affinity 

 with Gemellnria. Apart from other differences, the 



