20 ZOOPHYTES. 



under considerable diversity of aspect. Smaller specimens exhibit the 

 formation most satisfactorily; Plate V. fig. 1. Though all on analysis 

 resolve into the same elementary character, this is not so clearly displayed 

 by luxuriant specimens ; Plate VI. Except at the extremity of the 

 leaves, the dichotomous formation of the species is not evident. The 

 leaves of many specimens are of a triangular form, especially when in 

 early stages, as mere leaflets. They broaden as they rise. The whole 

 specimen seems composed of a number of leaves ; thence it is much richer 

 than either the carbasea or foliacea. A specimen three inches and a half 

 high, and occupying a vessel of about as much in diameter, had 140 ex- 

 tremities of leaves, these parts being conspicuous, while the remainder of 

 many are concealed amidst the luxuriance. The leaf is long and narrow, 

 some of them bearing five or six leaflets on one side, and several on the 

 other. Therefore the preceding extremities were those of the leaves, to 

 which in time would be added those of the leaflets. Large and luxuriant 

 specimens have above 200 extremities. The outer edge is elliptical or 

 hatched-shaped. 



A faint yellow marginal band, much less evident than in the Flastra 

 carbasea, borders the stem. 



Spacious long cells, penetrating each side of the leaf, are occupied by 

 ascidian hydra?, with twelve or fourteen tentacula. These animals are of 

 light grey colour, much resembling the tenants of the preceding species. 

 Their nature is lively, and they protrude the body as an inverted cone, 

 to display their complement of tentacular organs ; Plate V. fig. 2. The 

 cells are so indistinctly separated in recent specimens, that the leaf seems 

 traversed only with irregular waving longitudinal lines. But the hydra 

 displaying itself from one side, or issuing from both, shews how much 

 space it occupies. — Figs. 3, 4. 



A specimen, wherein the whole were supposed to be dead, was put 

 aside in a large vessel, and remained without renewal of the sea-water 

 during three weeks. Yet, on replenishment with a supply of the element 

 in a recent state, numbers protruded from their retreat. These animals 

 were minute. In general their tentacula were twelve, some had more. 



The leaves of prolific specimens are studded with numerous corpus- 



