BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 199 



FAMILY IV. VIRGULARID^. 



Genus Virgulakia. 

 it- 

 Leaves imall, attached to the rachis bj wide bases 



ending below in a series of undeveloped leaves. Pohjp- 



cells fused togethei* along the greater part of their 



length. Zuoids lateral. — Kolliker. 



V. MiRABiLis, Lamarck. Plate XV., fig. 4. 



V. laxipenna {Be BL), P. mirabilis {Miiller, Pall.), 

 Lygus mirabilis {Gray, HerJdots, Kdlliker), Scirpearia 

 mirabilis (Templeton). 



Hab. : Belfast Lough, Gairloch, Oban, St. Andrews, 

 and elsewhere in Scotland. Height to 14 in. 



" Feather two and a half times the length of the 

 stalk, leaves half moon-shaped, smooth, placed laterally 

 but slightly obliquely, the ventral border being higher 

 than the dorsal, overlapping one another only slightly 

 or not at all, attached by wide bases. Polyps 6 — 9 on 

 each leaf, their cavities separated from one another." — 

 {Kolliker.) 



Sir J. G. Dalyell describes it as " a long fleshy round 

 shell or bone invested by a fleshy covering which 

 expands from each side into a number of lobes, also 

 fleshy, bordered by several asteroidal hydree." 



The stalk of this species appears to be imbedded in 

 the mud, and from the investigations of Darwin and 

 others it is probable that the animal is possessed 

 of strong contractile powers, so as to withdraw itself 

 into the sand or mud out of the way of danger. 



This beautiful species is very difiicult to obtain un- 

 mutilated ; a perfect specimen in every respect not 

 having been obtained or seen by even the most 

 experienced authorities. 



