314 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



in size upwards. They are perfectly transparent, and 

 allow every part of the polypide to be seen. The 

 latter has eight tentacles. Ellis called this the " Sea- 

 silk^' Coralline, and it is a very appropriate name. 



Genus II. Amathia, Lamouroux, (Amathia, one of 

 the Nereids.) 



Zoarium consisting of a creeping tubular stem and 

 erect filiform shoots, dichotomously branched. Zooecia 

 subtubular, in two parallel rows, disposed in distinct 

 groups which are placed on one or both sides of the 

 stem, or wind spirally round it; or forming a continuous 

 series. — T. H. 



1. A. LENDiGERA, Linnceus. Plate XXIII. fig. 4. 



Sertularia lendigera {Linn., Pall., E. and 8., Lister, 

 Bogg, &c.), Serialaria lendigera {Lamh., Flem., DeBl., 

 R Q. a, G. J., D. L., Aid., D'Orh.), Valkeria lendigera 

 (Dahjell). 



Hab. : Northumberland [Aid.], Filey, Isle of Man, 

 Devon {T. H.) , Menai Straits, Jersey, Blackpool {A.S.P.), 

 Hastings {Miss Jelly), Cornwall (0. W. P.). 



This has been called the " Nit Coralline,^' and " when 

 we look at it with the naked eye we are reminded of 

 what we have seen on the heads of neglected children : 

 but we have only to apply the lens, and our thoughts 

 are immediately turned away from filth to the groves 

 of Arcadia, for what seemed a nit, is seen exactly to 

 resemble a little Pan-pipe.'^ — Landshorough. 



This species spreads in dense masses over other 

 zoophytes and fuci. The zooecia are arranged in groups, 

 and each group consists of two parallel rows, each of 

 which contains 4 — 8 cells gradually decreasing in size. 

 It is an easily recognized species, and from its luxuriant 



