86 HISTORY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



become more distinct ; several slender arms protrude from the 

 orifice of the vesicle, which are seen in vehement action ; and 

 after many struggles, an animated being escapes. But this 

 has no relation either to the planula of the Sertulana or the 

 corpnsculum of the Flustra, Alcyonium, or Actinia. It might 

 be rather associated with the Medusarue. Before ascertaining 

 its origin, I had named it Animalculum tintinnabulum, from 

 its general resemblance to a common hand-bell, for the pur- 

 pose of recognition. This creature is whitish, tending to 

 transparency, about half a line in diameter ; the body is like 

 a deep watch-glass, surmounted by a crest rising from the 

 centre, and fringed by about twenty-three tentacula pendent 

 from the lip below. These are of muricate structure, or 

 rough, and connected to the lip by a ball twice their own 

 diameter. The summit of the crest unfolds occasionally 

 into four leaves, and four organs prominent on the con- 

 vexity of the body appear at the base. When free, the 

 animal swims by jerks or leaps through the water, or drops 

 gently downwards ; it is incited to move by the light, and 

 it has survived at least eight days. Then it disappears; 

 at least, I have not been able to pursue its history longer. 

 No other product has ever issued from the vesicles of the 

 Sertulana dickotoma" 



