42 NATURAL HISTORY OP 



at low-water mark. Height about ^ in. Polypites 

 white^ with 20 — 30 tentacles. The proboscis capable 

 of great change of shape. Male gonophores yellowish 

 and pointed; female gonophores rose-coloured and 

 rounded. Gonophores borne upon partially developed 

 polypites. Near the edge of the colony are a number of 

 long, filamentary processes spirally coiled when at rest, 

 but capable of extension, as if for the purpose of de- 

 fence, if any part of the colony be disturbed. These ap- 

 pendages of the coenosarc are armed with thread cells. 



On the outskirts of the colony are also distributed a 

 number of slender extensile single tentacles. 



It will be seen from the synonyms that this species 

 was formerly considered to belong to the Polyzoa. 



FAMILY III. PODOCOEYNID^. 



Polyjjites sessile, with a single verticil of filiform tenta- 

 cula round the base of a conical proboscis. — T. H. 



Genus I. Podocoryne, Sars {in jjart). {irov'i, a foot, 

 and Coryne.) 



Polypites correspond with family character. Coeno- 

 sarc consisting of a network of creeping fibres clothed 

 with a polypary, which forms a small cup-like invest- 

 ment round the base of the polypite. Gonozooid free, 

 medusiform. — T. H. 



1. P. CARNEA, Sars. Plate II. fig. 5. 



P. albida {Bars), Hydractinia carnea (McA.), H. 

 echinata (Loven). 



Hab. : On Nassa reticulata, &c. Inch Garvie (All.)-, 

 Torbay ; Swanage Bay, Dorset ; Oban {T. H.) ; Culler- 

 coats (Aid.). Height about -g- in. Polypites tall, 

 expanding slightly upwards, white or reddish; pro- 



