LAOMEDEA. 161 



3. Laomedea gelatinosa^ Billenius, (Plate X. fig. 32.) 

 Hab. On stones and seaweeds between tide-marks. On 

 the under surface and sides of stones^ Berwick Bay, Dr. 

 Johnston. On the under sides of stones, in places left dry 

 for hours every tide ; and on the under surface of shelving 

 rocks, growing with its top downwards, and left dry every 

 tide, Ayrshire coast, D. L. In the Sol way, in sucli abun- 

 dance that it is a nuisance, requiring often to be removed 

 from the stake nets. Sir W. Jardine. — With us it is not 

 above an inch in height, but in favourable circumstances it 

 rises to the height of ten inches. The cells are cupped, 

 with an even margin ; the vesicles urn-shaped, rising from 

 the axils of the pedicles. 



" The base by which it adheres to stones is spreading 

 and spongy, and consists of numerous closely interwoven 

 fibres, which rapidly approach to form the stem." "The 

 polypes are not very irritable, for even when pricked with a 

 needle they seldom retreat completely within their covering, 

 and when left at rest they soon expand themselves.''^ " When 

 in an active state, I have observed the water taken in at 

 the mouth descend, for the space of several seconds, through 

 the gelatinous parenchyma of the body and footstalk, and 

 again return to be ejected. The fluid thus circulating did 



M 



