FLUSTIIA. 23 



parative Anatomy in the University College, London. These are inserted 

 in the third volume of the Philosophical Journal, New Series. 



§ 5. Flustra Murrayana? — Plate VIII. — Though entertaining 

 some doubts of the identity of my specimens, with the species thus named 

 by Dr Johnston, I deem it expedient rather to prefer his denomination in 

 the meantime, to shun the inconvenience always resulting from inno- 

 vation. 



But, the precise position of this zoophyte appears to be questionable. 

 Perhaps it should stand nearer to the ramified avicularian Flustra, while 

 approximating the foliaceous tribe. It rather seems to be a link between 

 them, as will be seen on viewing its different parts and properties. 



When specimens were first obtained, which was a number of years 

 ago, I proposed to distinguish the species as infundibulum, or the Funnel 

 flustra, from the evident tendency of the product to this form in its recent 

 living state. 



By comparing the*various figures presented here, with what has been 

 offered by the preceding learned naturalist, the correspondence or the 

 difference may be perhaps discovered. Observers may reach the same 

 point, without following the identical track pursued by each other. 



The subject before us rises an inch and a half in height, generally by 

 a short flattened stem, and expands two inches in breadth. The usual 

 formation of the most perfect specimens is dichotomous, more decidedly 

 seen in the subdivision and shape of the parts ; the summit of the leaves 

 being cleft, and bounded by a straight edge. Plate VIII. figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 

 represent entire specimens after Nature. 



By a peculiar kind of elastic incurvature, the general figure of the 

 whole subject bears some resemblance to a funnel, so that the longitudinal 

 section of a portion would correspond with a similar section of a hollow 

 cone. — Fig 5. 



The foliaceous structure, the figure, proportion, and arrangement of 

 the parts, are best exposed from a limb, spread out and extended by com- 



