59 



NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 



Cristatella Mucedo— Where to look for and how to find this 

 Polyzoon. — Having lately (July 6th) obtained a number of 

 specimens of this beautiful Polyzoon, after very many in- 

 effectual but most diligent searches, in a large canal 

 reservoir, where I had frequently found the characteristic 

 statoblasts in the greatest profusion, I beg to offer a few 

 suggestions in the hopes of enabling all those who love a 

 microscopic treat, to hunt successfully for this exquisite 

 treasure. 



Where to look ? then, is the first question. ' ' In clear 

 ponds and lakes," as Professor Allman tells us. The localities 

 in which I have found either the mature animal or the 

 statoblasts are the following : — 1. A mill-pond on the Elmdon 

 road, belonging to Mr. Allston, about two miles from 

 Solihull. 2. A large canal-reservoir on the Warwick and 

 Birmingham road. 3. A pool of water in the grounds of 

 the Earl of Shrewsbury, at Alton Towers. I was rather 

 surprised to find the statoblasts here, inasmuch as the 

 water is decidedly somewhat muddy. Now, I am inclined 

 to believe that Cristatella is as frequently to be met with 

 as many other of the fresh-water Polyzoa — Alcyonella, 

 Fredericella, and some of the Plumatellidse, for instance ; 

 but while in these cases an upturned stone, or the under 

 side of a submerged branch or leaf, at once reveals the pre- 

 sence of the adherent Polyzoa — for the sponge-like masses of 

 Alcyonella, and the interlacing or branching tubes of the 

 Plumatellidse, are evident to the eye, without the slightest 

 effort; it is not by any means so easy a matter to detect the 

 presence of Cristatella, whose light-yellow ccenoecium can 

 only with much difficulty and continued straining of the 

 eyes be seen, as the little colony rests upon some sub- 

 merged weed or stone, which weeds at this time of the year 

 are sure to be overspread with scum, Diatomacese, and the 

 faded filaments of some Algae, of the same colour as the 

 animal. 



Every lake, then, or mill-pond, or reservoir of clear water, 

 may be suspected to contain these most exquisite of all 

 the Polyzoa ; and as the statoblasts are more easily found 

 than the developed colony, I would advise the searcher to 

 look for them in the autumn and winter and spring, as he 



