PE^NATULIDyE : VIRGULARIA. 163 



when fully expanded. The polypi are easily perceived extending 

 through the lateral expansions or pinnae, to near the solid axis, where 

 we observe two transverse rows of small round white ova placed 

 under each pinna, and contained within the fleshy substance. These 

 ova appear to pass along the pinnae, to be discharged through the 

 polypi, as in the Lobularia, Gorgonia, Caryophyllea, Alcyonia, &c." 

 G7'ant. 



The figures in our plate were drawn from specimens with which I 

 was favoured by Dr. Coldstream, and which had been preserved for 

 some time in spirits ; but to shew the difference between the animal 

 in this contracted condition and when alive, I have placed beside them 

 figures 5 and 6, copied from Muller. The dissimilarity between 

 figures taken in these different states has rendered the synonymy of 

 the species perplexed and almost inextricable. According to Cuvier, 

 Lamarck, and Blainville, the species delineated by Muller, and which 

 is certainly identical with the British one, is not synonymous with 

 the LinuKan ; but this opinion rests solely upon the circumstance 

 of Linnreus having quoted a figure in the " Mus. Ad. Fr." — belong- 

 ing confessedly to another Zoophyte — as a representative of the spe- 

 cies he intended, which may have been done from the then un- 

 certainty of the limits of the species, or from having seen specimens 

 in spirits only. His character is very applicable to our animal, — 

 " P. stirpe filiformi, radii disticlie ^^^nnata : pinnis lunatis remoiis 

 alternis ;" and the habitat "m 0. Norvegico," seems to confirm the 

 reference. 



I am indebted to Mr. R. Patterson of Belfast, for the following 

 remarks : — " I notice that your figures of the Virgularia, are from 

 specimens preserved in spirits, and that to give an idea of the living 

 Zoophytes, you copy a part of Muller's delineation. Now, beautiful 

 as Muller's figure is, it does not do justice to the living appearance 

 of the animal. The translucid part is shewn by Muller plain, while 

 even to the naked eye, it exhibits about eight delicate lines, more 

 transparent than the adjoining parts. His figure, too, represents each 

 plume (if I may use the phrase,) in precisely the same position and 

 same degree of exjxmsion, but the fact is, that in the very longest 

 specimen I had, which I suppose was nine or ten inches, no two 

 were precisely alike ; — nay, they were so unlike, that a young lady 

 who, at my request, made the little drawing I now inclose, (PI. xxx. 

 fig. 7.) when she raised her eyes from her paper to look at the animal, 

 never found a moment's hesitation as to what particular plume she 

 was depicting. All were so unlike, that there was no mistaking one 



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