176 Objects for the Microscope. 



FLUSTRA CHARTACEA 



abounds at Hastings ; thin, glistening, and scarcely two 

 inches high, of a light straw colour ; the cells are an oblong 

 figure, protected by a helmet-like operculum. Called also 

 the Paper Seamat. 



The name Flustra is from a Saxon word flustrian, to 

 weave ; and wonderful, truly, is the living web which the 

 Almighty hand has woven in the deep sea ! 



CELLULARIA REPTANS. 



(Creeping Cellularia.} 



The Cellularia polyzoa has a mixture of horny and cal- 

 careous matter ; the cells have an oblique opening, each 

 with four or five short spines : it is a very common species 

 on fucus, in circular branched tufts. 



CELLULARIA CILIATA. 



A delicate little pearly-white coralline, often found amidst 

 the bunches of red sea-weed the Ptilota sericea espe- 

 cially. The cells are at the tips of the branches, and armed 

 with five very long calcareous spines, which are so brittle 

 that you seldom get them mounted perfectly ; and over 

 the mouth a most exquisite little operculum, transparent 

 yet firm, closes the door against intrusion, and falls back 

 when the twelve or sixteen ciliated tentacles come forth 

 for food. 



CRISEA EBURNEA. 



The Ivory-tufted Coralline, common on such sea-weeds 

 as Delesseria and Dasya, also on the roots of the Lami- 

 naria which has been thrown by a rough sea upon the 

 beach. Finely granulated pear-shaped vesicles are often 

 scattered over its branches ; it is strongly calcareous ; the 

 cells tubular, with circular apertures looking towards oppo- 

 site sides. 



CRISEA CORNUTA. 



The Goat's-horn Coralline, more rare, and parasitical on 

 other zoophytes. This is a very minute species, with long 

 tubular cells, shaped like goat's horns, and placed one over 



