LAOMEDEA. 161 
3. LAOMEDEA GELATINOSA, Didlenius. (Plate X. fig. 32.) 
Hab. On stones and seaweeds between tide-marks. On 
the under surface and sides of stones, Berwick Bay, Dr. 
Johnston. On the under sides of stones, in places left dry 
for hours every tide; and on the under surface of shelving 
rocks, growing with its top downwards, and left dry every 
tide, Ayrshire coast, D. L. In the Solway, im such abun- 
dance that it is a nuisance, requiring often to be removed 
from the stake nets, Sir W. Jardine.-—With us it is not 
above an inch in height, but in favourable circumstances it 
rises to the height of ten inches. The cells are cupped, 
with an even margin; the vesicles urn-shaped, rising from 
the axils of the pedicles. 
“The base by which it adheres to stones is spreading 
and spongy, and consists of numerous closely interwoven 
fibres, which rapidly approach to form the stem.” “The 
polypes are not very irritable, for even when pricked with a 
needle they seldom retreat completely within their covering, 
and when left at rest they soon expand themselves.” ‘ When 
in an active state, I have observed the water taken in at 
the mouth descend, for the space of several seconds, through 
the gelatinous parenchyma of the body and footstalk, and 
again return to be ejected. The fluid thus circulating did 
M 
