186 



VIRGULARIA MIRABILIS. 



by authors who believe in 

 the swimming powers of this 

 Zoophyte, to have the regu- 

 lar oar-like motion of fins. 

 Through the centre of the 

 stalk runs a calcareous co- 

 lumn, which serves to stiffen 

 the body of the Polypidom. 

 When irritated, this Zoo- 

 phyte is brilliantly phos- 

 phorescent ; but it does not 

 emit light unless disturbed, 

 or under the influence of 

 pain. Professor Forbes has 

 remarked that, when it is 

 touched, the luminosity com- 

 mences at the point of con- 

 tact, and proceeds upwards 

 to the polypiferous portion 

 of the Zoophyte, but never 

 in a contrary direction; and 

 when the centre of the poly- 

 piferous portion is struck, 

 the Polypes below the injury 

 are not affected, while those 

 above it emit light. " When 

 thrown into fresh water, the 

 Pennatula scatters sparks 

 about in all directions, a 

 most beautiful sight." The 

 Virgularia mirdbilis is another of this family, closely 



