ESCHARIDiE : FLUSTRA. 347 



pearls : the under surface is even and longitudinally striated, the 

 number of strioe corresponding to the number of rows in which the 

 cells are disposed. 



7. F. MURRAYANA, celU mitltisenal, ovate, the margin armed 

 with six or eight sinnes shorter than the diameter of the cell. 

 Mr. Bean. 



Plate LXIII. Fig. 5, 6. 



Flustra Miirrayana, Bea7i, MSS. named " after Dr. Murray, a scientific and zealous 

 naturalist of Scarborough." 



Hah. In deep water. Scarborough, very rare, Mr. Bean. Coast 

 of Northumberland, Miss Dale. Coast of Yorkshire and Orkney 

 Island, I believe common in deep water, Lieut. Thomas, R.N., from 

 whom I have some fine specimens. Zetland, E. Forbes. " I ob- 

 tained a number of specimens of this rare species in deep water 

 on the Dublin coast. It occurred in different situations attached 

 to Plumularia falcata, or to the base of Flustra foliacea, but its most 

 favourite place is in dead bivalves, particularly of Mytili ; where 

 sheltered from the action of the sea it spreads out into a beautiful 

 tuft, attached by a very slender base. My specimens were of a dark 

 brown colour, and I am convinced that this is the natural colour of 

 all specimens obtained in a living state." W. M'Calla. 



This pretty species grows in entangled spreading masses which are 

 rooted to the object of attachment by numerous long thread-like tu- 

 bular fibres, wrinkled when dry, and apparently always pullulating 

 from the side or inferior surface of a marginal cell. Polypidom 

 scarcely an inch in height, of a light colour and thin membranous 

 texture, dichotomous, spreading, the segments plane, narrow wedge- 

 shaped, truncate, the upper surface roughish with the cells, which 

 are disposed in the usual quincuncial manner, but are more elevated 

 than in any other species ; the under surface glistening, striate : 

 cells unilateral, so large that their figure is perceptible to the naked 

 eye, ovate, truncate above with a short hollow spinule at each angle, 

 and there are from four to six rather longer spinules protecting the 

 margin of the elliptical aperture. 



The species is very distinct from any hitherto described ; but I 

 suspect that the Sertularia spiralis of Olivi (Zool. Adriat. 291, tab. 

 6, fig. 2.) may prove to be the same thing. It is nearly allied to 

 Flustra avicularis, and, like this, is often loaded with the " Bird's- 

 head " appendages. 



