BRITISH ZOOrnYTES. 213 



and is found covering the fronds of seaweed with its 

 profuse growth. To the naked eye only apparent as 

 small white streaks or hairs, this zoophyte presents 

 under the microscope a very unique and beautiful 

 appearance. It seems as if a crowd of fairy snakes 

 had made the seaweed their home, and were lifting up 

 their heads in every direction. Each cell springs from 

 an enlargement in a creeping fibre or stolon. " From 

 very small holes in the broadest part of this irregular 

 winding tube there arise here and there small testaceous 

 white hollow figures, exactly resembling a snake with- 

 out the lower jaw, in the place whereof is the entrance 

 into the cell" (ElHs). The zooecia are ringed, and of 

 a clear white colour. The aperture is covered with a 

 membrane, so that the snake-like head and membrane- 

 covered aperture beneath are not unlike a '^ pelican's 

 beak^^ (Busk) or a spoon, from which latter resem- 

 blance arose the specific name spatulata, often applied 

 to the species. The top of the cell or " head " is 

 marked with dots. The membranous sheath is sur- 

 rounded by "a delicate fringe or frill of filmy rays 

 united by a vandyked membrane. The interior con- 

 tains many very slender threads constantly waving 

 with a vermicular motion " (Gosse, D. C, 143). These 

 *^ threads " are the setae referred to in the description 

 of the family characteristics. Dr. Johnston states that 

 they are of a pale pink or flesh colour, or white ; but 

 the latter colour is certainly the most widely distri- 

 buted. 



2. A. RECTA, Tlincks. 



Hippothoa sica {R. Q. C, B.L., G. /.), Stomatopora 

 Gallica {D'Orh.), ^tea sica (Couch). 



Hab. : Torbay, Salcombe, Isle of Man, Lamlash, 



