478 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



globular aiiimalcule swam rapidly by one of the expanded 

 polypes; the latter immediately contracted, seized the 

 globule, and brought it to the mouth or central opening 

 by its tentacula ; -fehese gradually opened &gain, witli 



the exception of one, which 

 remained folded, with its ex- 

 tremity on the animalcule. 

 The mouth instantly seemed 

 filled with cilia, which, closinc^ 

 over the prey, was carried 

 Jilowly down its stomach ; 

 here it was imperfectly seen, 

 and soon disappeared. 



Appertaining to this flimily 

 are Dr. Flemino's Thuiarea, 

 so named by him from their 

 resemblance to a cedar-tree; 

 some kinds look more like a 

 knobbed thornstick with a 

 bottle-clearer at the top ; 

 others resemble a fir-tree. 

 Antennularia are so called 

 from their resemblance to a 

 lobster's antenna. They are 

 plentiful on the north-eastern 

 coast of England and the 

 coast of Ireland, brown in 

 Fig. 034, colour, and covered with 



I, Phimviaria pi'nnaia,i:QM\er polype, hair-likc little brauches; and 

 2, Duri*-i;i6erc«teto, Seasiug. * j^g ^^q hairy proccss is Con- 

 tinued up its jointed stem, it is sometimes denominated 

 Sea-beard. Dr. Hassall's Coppinia is another very interest- 

 ing species. 



The rinmularla, so named from their shoots and 

 otfscts being plumose, are an extensive and beautiful 

 family. Professor Grant thus describes the Pliiinuiaria 

 falcata : " The Sickle Coralline is common in the deeper 

 parts of the Frith of Forth ; its vesicles are very mimerous, 

 and its ova are in full maturity at the beginning of May. 

 The ova are large, of a light-brown colour, sen?i-opaque, 

 nearly spherical, composed of minute transparent granules, 



