VIRGULARIA. 199 
Sir J. G. Dalyell says, ““ We have had already some singular 
examples of conformation and properties among the rare 
and remarkable animals of Scotland; but I know not that 
any of the whole is more entitled to be distinguished than 
V. mirabilis, now before us, whereof every naturalist, enjoy- 
ing the enviable prerogative of personal experience, has ex- 
pressed the highest admiration. The Virgudaria in vigour 
bears a considerable general resemblance to a feather, much 
more than to a rod or rush. It consists of a long, slender, 
round shell or bone, invested by a fleshy coating, which 
expands from each side into a number of lobes, also fleshy, 
bordered by several asteroidal hydre.’’ Mr. Paterson de- 
scribes these lobes, which are translucent, as being rendered 
more beautiful by about eight delicate lines, more trans- 
parent than the adjoining parts; and the lobes as being so 
unlike each other, notwithstanding the general similarity, 
that a young lady who was making a drawing of them, 
when she raised her eyes from the paper to look at the 
animal, never found a moment’s hesitation as to what par- 
ticular plume she was depicting. 
Sir J. G. Dalyell, who has had the advantage of examin- 
ing some remarkably fine specimens in a living state, re- 
marks, “The Virgularia, for the most part, is procured in 
