BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 45 



Genus Lar, Gosse. {Lar, a houseliold god.) 



Polypites fusiform, sessile ; two tentacula developed 

 on a d'eepiug and anastomosing filiform stolon.— 

 P. H. G. 



1. L. Sabellarum, p. J3". O. Plate III. fig. 1. 



This species was first observed by Mr. Gosse on the 

 tube of a Sabella in his aquarium. The appearance of 

 the polypites is " ridiculously like that of a minute doll/' 

 and, according to Mr. Gosse's description, it closely 

 imitates certain human motions and incessantly bows 

 and tosses its arms in an energetic manner. Mr. 

 Gosse's account is as follows : " A slender creeping 

 thread, irregularly crossing and anastomosing so as to 

 form a loose network of about three meshes in width, 

 surrounds the margin of the Sabella's tube, adhering 

 firmly to its exterior surface, in the chitinous substance 

 of which it seems imbedded. Here and there free 

 buds are given off, especially from the lower edge, 

 while from the upper threads spring the strange forms 

 that have attracted our attention. These are spindle- 

 shaped bodies, about one-fortieth of an inch in height, 

 whose lower extremities are of no greater thickness 

 than the thread from which they spring, with a head- 

 like lobe at the summit, separated from the body by a 

 constriction, immediately below which two lengthened 

 arms project in a direction towards the axis of the 

 tube. The motions of the polyps are not rhythmical, 

 but each individual appears to be animated by a distinct 

 volition. The head lobe encloses a central cavity, and 

 the arms are hollow with thick walls. Examined with 

 a power of 560 diameters, the arms are seen to be 

 formed of globose cells made slightly polyhedral by 



