CELLULARIA. 235 



Plate XLIII. Cellularia (notamia) loriculata — Coat of ISIail Coralline. 

 Plate XLIV. Fig. 1. Specimen growing from a portion of sponge. 



2. Branch. 



3. Stem. 



4. Branch. 



5. Twig with cells. 



6. Twig with hydrse. 



All the preceding figures, except 2, are enlarged. 



f 2. Cellularia reptans — Creeping coralline. — Plate XLV. — This 

 is a product whose curious, determinate, and elegant formation, eluding the 

 unaided vision of mankind, can be discovered only by microscopic means. 

 What idea can we entertain of the Power that planned and executed such 

 a wonderful species of architecture — so many edifices — such an arrange- 

 ment — together with the inhabitants that occupy them ! Here is pre- 

 sented a vast colony of living beings — all dwelling in peace — no one inter- 

 fering with another's safety. In the marvellous field of the animated 

 universe, every step unfolds some novelty arousing our admiration of the 

 works of the creation. 



This zoophyte is generally established on others, especially on the 

 Flmtra foliacea. It rises an inch in height, by a very short stem, and 

 diverges as much into subordinate parts, all tending to dichotomous for- 

 mation, or each cleaving in two. — PI. XLV. figs. 1, 2. 



The stem and all the rest of the parts are clothed with a double row 

 of cells, in alternate arrangement. Their orifice, nearly level with the 

 surface, is elliptical, and their higher extremity guarded by two or three 

 short spines A lively ascidian hydra, with twelve tentacula, inhabits the 

 cells, but exposing so small a portion of the body that its nature and form 

 are to be rather presumed from analogies, than described and demon- 

 strated. The tentacula are slightly recurved : they are endowed with a 

 percussive faculty : particles are attracted, tossed about and repelled, by 

 the hydra, which retreats instantaneously within its dwelling. The whole 

 product is of a dark brownish-yellow : the portion of the animal exposed 



