310 DECEMBER. 



exist in the form of groups, composed of distinct indivi- 

 duals associated by a common branching root-thread, 

 whence they irregularly bud forth. There are, however, 

 other genera, in which the compound life is more pro- 

 minently manifest, the individual being recognisable 

 only by carefully dissecting it out from the common 

 mass. To this form belong many gelatinous masses 

 which occur on our rocky coasts ; one in particular, 1 con- 

 spicuous for its rich scarlet and orange colours, which 

 forms irregular pear-shaped lumps, that hang from low- 

 lying ledges, and that look not unlike strawberries. 

 This is extremely abundant. More attractive still are 

 the Botrylli? which doubtless many persons have gazed 

 on with admiration, wondering what they can be, 

 animal, vegetable, or what. They look as if small 

 quantities of jelly had been spilt, sometimes on a stone, 

 sometimes on the broad leaf of a tangle, sometimes on 

 a shrubby sea- weed, entangling the twigs and leaves in 

 the gelatinous mass. When we look elosely at such an 

 object, we see that it is studded with little starry systems 

 of oblong specks, of some bright colour contrasting with 

 the ground-tint ; perhaps the stars are bright orange 

 on a warm brown, or pale straw-colour on a chocolate 



i Amcercecium proliferum. 



4 Two familiar kinds of Botryllus are represented in Plate xxxv ; of 

 which I cannot with certainty indicate the specific names. 



