/^^ Alcyonium. 87 



N". 4. Akyonium^ feu Cyathiis tnarinits. piatexxxrr 



Sea Cup. Fig ^- c. ' 



Thefe little Cup-like Figures are found on the Coaft of tl-e 

 JJle of Sheppey^ in Kent^ fticking to Stones and Shells erect, 

 many of them together. When they are firfl: taken out of the 

 Sea, they are of a bright femi-tranfparent yellow Colour, of 

 a horny tough Nature, containing a vifcid Subftance, v/ith 

 many Orange- coloured Seed, or Egg-like Particles, in the 

 upper Part of each Cup, as they are reprefentcd magnified at 

 Fig. C, Plate XXXII. Under it, at Fig. c, is exhibited the 

 natural Size. 



While I was at Ranfgate^ in Augtifi 1754. I met with 

 fome of this Kind • which, upon raifing up the Operculum 

 at the Top, I difcovered, by my Microfcope, to be full of 

 fmall Periwinkles completely formed. The Figures of thefe 

 Shells are defcribed at Fig. c, and a little magnified at Fig. C. 

 So that we may properly look upon this Sea- Cup as the 

 Ovary to the Periwinkle Shell-i^in. 



It is recommended to the Curious, to obferve at the 

 Sea-fide, whether there may not be fome Animal of the Po- 

 lype Kind feen at the Top of each of thefe Cups ; as we al- 

 ready find fomething fimilar to this Contrivance in the Sea- 

 Fig, or firlt Alcyonium of this Clafs (See Fig. 2), Plate 

 XVII). 



N°. 5. Akyonium^ feu Fucus nodofus &' fpongiofus. R. S.piatexxxrr. 

 N°. 42-p. 49. f^£.<^.i?/ 



Sea ragged Staff, called by the Fifiiermen Pipe-v/ced, 

 or Pudding-weed. 



This irregular-fhaped yellow fizy Subftance, reprefented 



in Plate XXXII. at Fig. ^Z, is found adhering to moft kinds 



I of 



