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cumstance that an empty tubule, or one in which the parietes may 

 be traced continuously without being interrupted by joints or internal 

 septa, has never fallen under our notice ; besides which the filaments 

 are exceedingly brittle, usually suffering cleavage in the transverse 

 direction. It, however, undoubtedly belongs to the Oscillatoridse. 



" When the filaments are first removed from the water, they may 

 be observed adhering side by side in little bundles or fasciculi ; arid 

 besides the colouring matter, the little cells, or at least the intervals 

 between the septa, contain globules of air, which sufficiently account 

 for their buoyancy ; and, moreover, in this respect, although their 

 abiding place is the open ocean, their habit can scarcely be regarded 

 as very different from that of those species which flourish in damp 

 localities exposed to the atmosphere. 



" The filaments are all very short compared with their diameter, 

 with rounded extremities ; and when immersed some little time in 

 fluid so that the contained air-bubbles make their escape or are 

 taken up, the pale colouring matter appears to fill the cells com- 

 pletely, and a central portion, a little darker than the rest, may be 

 distinctly perceived in each compartment intersected by a very 

 delicate transverse partition. 



" We have found this species off the coast of Australia and in 

 Moreton Bay, amongst the Polynesian Islands, and on two separate 

 occasions off the Loyalty Group, in nearly the same geographical 

 position." 



