A STILBA CEA . SA OA HTJA D.E 



THE WALLED CORKLET. 



Phellia murocincta. 

 Plate VII. fig. 2 ; XII. fig. 8 (magn.). 



Specific Character. Epidermis dense; free and tube-like at the summit; 

 its surface not warted. 



Phellia murocincta. GOSSE, Annals N. H. Ser. 3. ii. 193. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

 Form. 



Base. Adherent to rocks ; slightly exceeding column. 



( 'olumn. Cylindrical, pillar-like when expanded, slightly grooved longi- 

 tudinally, smooth, but partly clothed with a dense, rough, membranous 

 skin, which is firmly adherent from the base about half-way up, but there 

 becomes free, forming a loose firm sheath or tube, from which the animal 

 protrudes its fore parts in extension, and into which it retires at will, more 

 or less completely. Surface of epidermis rough, but not warted. Height, 

 in full extension, double the diameter. 



Disk. A deep cup, bounded by the thick feet of the inner tentacles. 



Tentacles. Twenty-four, in two rows, twelve in each ; those of the first 

 row twice as large as the others, with which they alternate : variable in 

 form, sometimes strongly conical, stout at the foot, and pointed ; at other 

 times nearly cylindrical and obtuse : they have a tendency to assume a 

 knotted appearance : they are generally carried hanging over the margin 

 with a double curve, like the branches of a chandelier : but sometimes 

 those of the inner row stand erect. 



Mouth. Not raised on a cone, so far as could be ascertained. 



Acontia. Emitted sparingly and reluctantly. 



Colour. 



Column. Exposed portion having a mealy appearance, produced by a 

 number of whitish longitudinal lines and dashes, more or less speckled 

 and interrupted by the ground-colour, which is pellucid yellowish grey. 

 Of these lines, twelve are^ broader, and between these are about four 

 slender lines hi each interspace. The margin becomes deep buff, pro- 

 ducing a depression of that hue when in the button-state. 



