146 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



in distillation little or no traces of a volatile salt ; whereas the 

 corallines afford a considerable quantity, and in burning yield 

 a smell somewhat resembling that of burnt horn and other 

 animal substances, which of itself is a proof that this class of 

 bodies, though it has the vegetable form, yet it is not entirely 

 of a vegetable nature." 



It would be foreign to the nature of this work to enter into 

 the minute anatomy, development, or classification of the 

 various tribes of zoophytes. The subject has been investi- 

 gated with great industry and success by recent observers, and 

 for a summary of our present knowledge we would refer 

 students to Dr. Carpenter's work on the Microscope, Lands- 

 brough's "Popular History of British Zoophytes," and the 

 classical work of Dr. Johnston. 



Spongia mammillaris (Nipple Sponge). We were much gratified 

 in obtaining this interesting species in a living state, left 

 on the sands after a very heavy gale of wind. It con- 

 tinued to eject water from the sifmmits of the projecting 

 parts for several days after it was found. It is the only 

 sponge we have been able to procure on this shore 

 retaining its vitality. 



Hydractinia echinata. A very common and abundant species, 

 found coating a variety of old as well as living shells, on 

 which it is most abundant, such as Buccinum undatum, 

 (the Common Whelk), and the Natica monilifera. It has 

 been stated that most of the shells encrusted by this 

 polype are tenanted by the Hermit Crab ; we have 

 frequently found them so, but it does not hold good as a 

 general rule ; in several instances we have found this 

 species growing on Mya truncata. 



