HALCYONELLEA : ALCYONIDIUM. 363 



the cells under the microscope, I obtained a view of several of the 

 polypes, but not so perfectly as I would wish. The stomach is lined 

 by a layer of yellowish granules, and the cilia extend downwards 

 along the intestinal canal, but to what extent I was not able to de- 

 termine. I observed some in active motion, in one fragment, in the 

 rectum. The pharynx and oesophagus are seen frequently to con- 

 tract and dilate when the animal is protruded. A number of small 

 oval brownish bodies adhere to the cells. These are full of granules, 

 and I suppose them to be ova. I placed a small portion of the poly- 

 pidom in aqua potassse about two hours ago, and on looking at it 

 with a simple lens, the cells have become translucent, retain their 

 form entire, and present the appearance of being calcareous. I sus- 

 pect, therefore, that these cells are formed of a mixture of animal and 

 calcareous matter." John Reid, 



The ALCYONIDIUM SUBVIRIDE of Couch's Corn. Faun. iii. 133, is the Geodia zet- 

 landica described in my History of British Sponges. 



I shall here notice a species that may be referred to the genus 

 Alcyonidium with as much propriety as to the genus Flustra,* 

 where it has been usually placed. It is the 



FLUSTRA HISPIDA, Fabric. Faun. Groenl. 438. Jameson in Wern. Mem. i. 563. 

 Mem. Brit. Anim. 537. Johnston in Trans. Newc. Soc. ii. 266, pi. 9, fig. 7. Blainv. 

 Actinol. 450. Flustra spongiosa, Tempkton in Loud. Mag. N. Hist. ix. 469. W, 

 Thompson in Ann. Nat. Hist. v. 253. Membranipora spongiosa, Johns. Brit. 

 Zooph. 282. Flustra carnosa, Johns. Brit. Zooph. 288, pi. 37, fig. 5. Couch Corn. 

 Faun. iii. 125. Hassall in Ann. and Mag. N. Hist. vii. 369. 



PLATE LXVI. FIG. 5. 



It is found investing Fucus serratus, and is common on our coast 

 near low-water mark. When recent the crust is about a line in thick- 

 ness, fleshy, brown, with scattered spinules appearing on the surface, 

 which is otherwise smooth and glistening. When dried, it appears 

 like a wrinkled hirsute membrane, adhering very closely to the sea- 

 weed. The cells are inconspicuous, but it can be perceived that 

 they are arranged quincuncially, and have a lunate aperture, armed 

 with about five long rigid bristles. The polypes, according to 

 Dr. Fleming, have " an enlarged head, and from twenty to thirty 

 tentacula." In a beautiful figure given by Mr. Hassall in Ann. and 

 Mag. N. Hist. vii. pi. 6, fig. 1, under the name of Coryne squamata, 

 the polypes are represented with eighteen tentacula; but, in his de- 



* This species, which is undoubtedly no Flustra, ought to be raised to a generic 

 rank, and placed in the family Alcyonidulae." A. H. Hassall. 



