VESICULARIAD.E : BEANIA. 371 



much divided dichotomously, the apices pointed and closed ; all the 

 branches are jointed under each bend, and the branchlets at each 

 division, and they are perforated with a single series of rather distant 

 holes with a raised rim, as if they had been bored from within out- 

 wards : cells three between each joint, deciduous, oval, transparent. 

 " The animals are very easily seen in all their details in this species* 

 from the great transparency of the vesicles, and are provided with 

 eight tentacula," Thompson, which " are ciliated but not armed with 

 spines." Farre. 



The holes in the sides of the capillary branches mark the places 

 whence the polype-cells have fallen. The spine-like points in which 

 the divisions of the branchlets terminate have suggested the Linnean 

 specific name ; and that of Ellis and Pallas expresses the silky ap- 

 pearance which dried specimens exhibit. Ellis has well marked the 

 distinctions which separate the species from the Sertulariadae. " The 

 motion of the intestines of the young polypes was very distinguish 

 able till the water became putrid ; and then both vesicles and po- 

 lypes dropped off, like blighted blossoms off a tree ; and the substance 

 of the parent polype, though seeming to fill the whole cavity of the 

 branch before, as soon as the water became improper for its support, 

 shrivelled up immediately so as scarce to be visible." 



25. BEANIA,* Johnston. 



CHARACTER. Polypidom confervoid, horny, the shoots creep- 

 ing, filiform, tubular, irregularly divided ; the cells very large, 

 sessile, erect, scattered and solitary, ovate with a double spinous 

 keel on one side. Polypes unknown. 



This remarkable genus was discovered by Mr. William Bean of Scarborough. 

 I felt gratified in associating it with his name. He is well known to Naturalists 

 generally by his multitudinous discoveries in British Zoology, recent and fossil. To 

 some of his new species the trivial name fabalis has been applied, but the justice of 

 such a conceit or puzzle is questionable, since it veils the discoverer's name from 

 those who are not good guessers. Mr. Bean may literally address his native place 

 in the words of Drayton, 



" My Scarborough, which looks as though in heaven it stood, 

 To those that lie below, from th' bay of Robin Hood, 

 Even to the fall of Teis ; let me but see the man, 

 That in one tract can show the wonders that I can." 



Poly-olbion, Song 28. 



