SERTULARIAD^E : ANTENNULARIA. 87 



smooth, with a subterminal circular aperture " looking towards the 

 middle stem." 



" This species sometimes takes a creeping habit, throwing out 

 branches at various points from a horizontal stem, which, in all 

 points, resembles the stems in the typical state. The branches thus 

 thrown out are about three inches high." T. G. Rylands. 



In specimens cast on shore after storms, the branchlets are almost 

 always broken short, when the polypidom assumes, in a more 

 marked manner, the appearance of the Lobster's horn or antenna, 

 whence the name of the genus and species. 



This very fine zoophyte is agreeably associated in my mind with 

 recollections of my friend Charles William Peach. The following 

 little narrative will explain the link that binds them together ; and 

 the episode that adds another name to the useful list of those who 

 have pursued, successfully, science under many difficulties and dis- 

 couragements will surely be excused : " I was born at Wansford, 

 in the county of Northampton, on the 30th September 1800. At 

 this time my father was a saddler and harness-maker ; and, as he 

 was of an enterprising turn, he took a small inn in the village when 

 I was very young, and afterwards about eighty acres of land, and 

 gave up his other business. Being of a studious turn, and fond of 

 books, I was kept at school until fifteen years of age ; and from that 

 time until twenty-three years of age, I was employed in assisting in 

 the inn and upon the farm, and frequently scolded for attending to 

 books instead of the plough. I was then appointed as a riding 

 officer in the coast-guard at Wey bourn, in the port of Clay, Norfolk. 

 At that time I knew nothing of natural history. From having all 

 my life been confined inland, and not having seen the sea, I was 

 much struck with all connected with it ; and I well remember how 

 delighted I was with a most splendid specimen of Antennularia 

 antennina, which was placed upon the chimney-piece of the little 

 parlour of the inn I stopped at when I joined my station : it excited 

 a curiosity which was not satisfied until I found out what it was, 

 and I believe I may date my progress from that time. I continued 

 to collect for the beauty of the forms and colours of the agates until 

 1825, when I met the Rev. J. Layton, then at Catfield, who, finding 

 I collected, asked ' whether I should not like to know the names, 

 &c. of what I collected ? ' Of course, I wished to know. He in- 

 vited me to his house. From that time to the present I have 

 endeavoured to gain all the information I could. I never wrote a 

 paper, or read one, (in fact, I never heard but one scientific lecture,) 



