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whicli sometimes makes itself apparent in chemical aflfinity, or in 

 producing those admirable crystalline forms, which arc only less 

 lovely than the liigher developments of beauty in vegetable life. 



Mr. Sibert Saunders sent a Suu-star (Solastcr papposa) -with 

 thirteen rays, and having another animal of six rays, growing 

 as an excrescence from the upper surface of its body ; the 

 two animals being thus placed back to back. The dimensions 

 of the ^^olaster from tip to tip of its rays is five inches, while 

 that of the abnormal animal is three inches from _ tip to tip. 

 The sis rays are uniform in shape and size, and each is furnished 

 -with its proper rows of suckers and spines, and is in all respects 

 like those of the parent animal, but, instead of the large central 

 space occupied by the mouth in the perfect animal, the rows of 

 spines converge together, leaving only a small orifice. This curious 

 freak of nature excited much interest. The company expressed 

 rei^ret that Mr. Sibert Saunders was not present to describe it in his 

 usually lucid aud pleasant manner, and were exceedingly sorry that 

 Mr. Gr. Gulliver, F.R.S., was, through continued illness, prevented 

 from entering into the anatomical peculiarities of the creature. 



Mr. EuUagar exhibited some large diagrams of four Eotifers, 

 namely, Melieerta Uingens, Tubicolaria Najas, Limnias Ceratophylli, 

 and Lvmnias Annulata. All the Eotifers are very beautiful micro- 

 scopical objects. The three first-nuniioued are to be found in 

 ponds in the neighbourhood of Canterbury at certain times of the 

 year ■ the last named has not been found here, and is new to the 

 East Kent Natural History Society. Mr. Fullagar is indebted to 

 Mr. Muller, of Eastbourne, for the specimens that he has had the 

 pleasure of examining. That gentleman kindly sent him a small 

 bottle of water containing the weed Utricularia, from a pond at 

 Eastbourne, on which the Limnia Annulata was living, and the 

 first small piece of the weed taken from the bottle had two very 

 fine specimens of the limnea on it, which soon put forth the beauti- 

 ful ciliated lobes foiming two wheels, revolving in the most perfect 

 manner, ihe case or sheath is gracefully formed, small at its 

 attachment to the point of support, and gradually increasing in size 

 to the opening at the top, and though encircled with rings through 

 the whole length, it is sufliciently transparent to enable observers to 

 obtain a satisfactory view of its contents. The long slender body of the 

 llotifer is seen attached by its tapering foot to the base of the sheath ; 

 between it and the sheath wall were three eggs which had passed 

 out of the body and were lying between the body aud the sheath wall. 

 The lowest of "the three had so far advanced towards maturity that the 

 iaws of the young creature could be distinctly seen in operation, and 

 the cilia formed at the head and two bright red eyes were distinctly 

 visible. In about six hours the lower young limnea was seen to 

 pass up by the other two eggs, and make its exit out at the _ top _ of 

 the sheatli, and commence a life of independence, by first swimming 

 rapidly about for some time, and then settling down. The cilia 



