VIRGULABIA. 199 



Sir J. G. Dalyell says, " We have had already some singular 

 examples of conformation and properties among the rare 

 and remarkable animals of Scotland ; but I know not that 

 any of the whole is more entitled to be distinguished than 

 V. mirabilis, now before us, whereof every naturalist, enjoy- 

 ing the enviable prerogative of personal experience, has ex- 

 pressed the highest admiration. .The Virgularia in vigour 

 bears a considerable general resemblance to a feather, much 

 more than to a rod or rush. It consists of a long, slender, 

 round shell or bone, invested by a fleshy coating, which 

 expands from each side into a number of lobes, also fleshy, 

 bordered by several asteroidal hydrse." Mr. Paterson de- 

 scribes these lobes, which are translucent, as being rendered 

 more beautiful by about eight delicate lines, more trans- 

 parent than the adjoining parts ; and the lobes as being so 

 unlike each other, notwithstanding the general similarity, 

 that a young lady who was making a drawing of them, 

 when she raised her eyes from the paper to look at the 

 animal, never found a moment's hesitation as to what par- 

 ticular plume she was depicting. 



Sir J. G. Dalyell, who has had the advantage of examin- 

 ing some remarkably fine specimens in a living state, re- 

 marks, "The Virgularia,$.<yt the most part, is procured in 



