INTRODUCTION. 43 



Kent, that he might examine these marine productions in 

 their native locality, more especially those respecting which 

 he was doubtful, taking with him his microscope, and a 

 skilful artist to prepare figures of the objects examined. 

 On examining them in sea-water, very soon were his doubts 

 dissipated, and he became thoroughly convinced that what 

 had been regarded as plants were nothing else than the 

 nests of animals, which he saw alive and which protruded 

 from the cells in which they were enclosed, organs like 

 little branches or filaments. 



In June, 1754, Mr. Ellis went to the coast of Sussex, 

 taking with him Mr. Ehret, to sketch figures of whatever 

 the microscope enabled them to discover. He sent an ac- 

 count of this excursion, along with the figures, to the Royal 

 Society, who honoured the whole with their approbation. 

 In plate 9, for instance, he gives a very good figure, of the 

 natural size, of Antennularia antennina, and also one of its 

 branches magnified such as they saw it in the water by the 

 aid of the microscope; and in this are seen the polypes, 

 sending from their cells their tentacula in the form of little 

 star-fish. In plate 29, also, there is a figure of Flustra 

 foliacea of the natural size, with one of the polypes magni- 

 fied. It was then also that he discovered the true nature and 



