150 ZOOPHYTES. 



This species requires as frequent renovation of its element as the rest. 

 With due precaution it may be easily preserved. 



Having obtained a quantity of heterogeneous collections from the 

 sea, about the middle of summer, I discovered, for the first time, a minute 

 reddish animal, towards a line in length, resembling a common pin, such 

 as used in apparel, which was endowed with considerable activity. It 

 disappeared suddenly, without exciting much surprise, for many creatures, 

 of extraordinary conformation and habits, are continually occurring in the 

 course of deviation, into various paths, amidst the boundless field of Na- 

 ture. For the purpose of recognition, a rude sketch had been made of it, 

 and it was denominated spinula, from its peculiar shape. 



Exactly five years afterwards, the same animal appeared again : and 

 it was with some surprise that I found this to be precisely on the same 

 day of the year, the 19th of July ; also, as before, among collections 

 whereof the Flustra carbasea constituted a principal portion. The coinci- 

 dence being remarkable, demanded more sedulous attention. I acknow- 

 ledge that I felt rather disposed to consider the object an earlier stage of 

 some fistulous, foliaceous, or carnose zoophyte, than pertaining to any- 

 thing else, provided it were not itself a perfect animal. I had seen no- 

 thing at the time written on the subject ; nor have I since. 



The Spinula bears the strongest resemblance to the shape of the 

 common tadpole, so familiar to every one, as well as in motion. A large 

 head, almost opaque, with a black internal speck, declines into an attenu- 

 ated flattened tail, with indistinct indications of segments and fins, or 

 cilia. It wriggles through the water chiefly by aid of its tail, like the 

 tadpole. The motion of animals depends on the power, formation, or 

 position of their organs ; but none, either principal or subordinate, 

 could be distinctly recognised as external here. — Plate XXXVII. 

 figs. 3, 4, 5. 



On both occasions, the past and present, there was a whole colony of 

 Spinula : but of the second, many were preserved, and correct drawings 

 now made of several, as also on subsequent opportunities. 



All the animals disappeared as they had done previously. Here, 

 however, various minute circular spots, not unlike those which had for- 



