TUBULIPORID.E : TUBULIPORA. 267 



Newc. Soc. ii, 269, pi. 9, fig. 8. Milm-Edivards in Ann. des Sc. Nat. viii, 329. 

 pi. 13, fig. 1. Thompson in Ann. Nat. Hist. v. 252. Hassall in ibid. vi. 170. 

 Couch Zooph. Cornw. 44 : Corn. Faun. 103. Discopora verrucaria, Flem. Brit. 

 Anim. 530. 

 Var. /3. Tubulipora bellis, Tlumpson MS. 



ffab.On shells and zoophytes from deep water frequent ; and 

 sometimes on rocks and sea-weeds at low-water mark. 



Polypidom like a little saucer, calcareous, white, about half an 

 inch in diameter ; the base thin, subcircular, forming a shallow cup 

 crowded with cells in the centre, the margin plain, entire, scored 

 with faint lines ; central cells shorter than those towards the cir- 

 cumference and frequently closed, most of them laid obliquely, but 

 some erect, tubulous, with a round even aperture. In its perfect 

 state this pretty zoophyte has been aptly compared to a compound 

 flosculous flower. It varies a good deal in the deepness of its centre, 

 for sometimes it is properly described as being cupped, at other times 

 it is so shallow that a saucer or plate becomes the best object of 

 comparison. The centre of the disk, opposite the place of the solder- 

 ing of the polypidom to its foreign base, is without tubes or cells, 

 which are in lined series, and are arranged very prettily round the 

 circumference of the saucer, but the series nearest the margin are 

 irregular and coalescent, with plain angular apertures, so as to re- 

 semble exactly a piece of honey-comb. The rowed and more inward 

 cells, are on the contrary tubular, often free and disjunct, and stand 

 in regular lines. The margin is formed by an extension of the 

 basilar lamina. Specimens occur in which it scarcely protrudes 

 beyond the mass of cells, but generally it is about a line in breadth, 

 and, when seen through a good magnifier, appears scored with opake 

 and transparent lines. The polypes are unknown. 



Of the variety bellis Mr. Thompson has favoured me with the 

 following description. Its peculiarities seem to be dependent on its 

 position being unfavourable to the perfect development of the 

 zoophyte. 



" Polypidom calcareous, snow-white, about three lines in diameter ; 

 base very thin, circular, flat. Not much elevated above this, the 

 cells, generally placed obliquely, exhibit a flattish circular mass, in 

 disposition and form resembling those in the centre of Tubulipora 

 patina, but are more developed and distinctly shown throughout 

 than in that species. 



" This beautiful Tubulipora occurred to me in Strangford Lough 

 sparingly studding, with circular patches of a snow-white colour, 



