THE ZOOPHYTES. 149 



height, extremely delicate and slender, and of a dusky 

 straw colour, sometimes with a rosy tint. It creeps along 

 the substance on which it grows, and is to be met with on 

 the sands from Formby to Crossens. 



Sertularia abietina (Sea Fir). One of our more beautiful 

 zoophytes. It is very abundant ; parasitic on stones and 

 shells in deep water, and after high tides or stormy 

 weather is thrown in great quantities on the shore, but 

 rarely obtained with living polypes, except when dredged 

 up from deep water. Frequently quite encrusted with 

 serpulae and small mussels ; at times coated with various 

 species of Lepralia and Celepora. 



Serlularia fallax. A small but very elegant species. Not 

 abundant, but to be found attached to oysters and 

 scallops, and left ashore by the retreating tide. A native 

 of deep water. 



Sertularia tamariscina (Sea Tamarisk). Frequently found 

 after spring tides or rough stormy weather, attached to 

 shells and stones ; at times forming clusters eight or ten 

 inches in height. When recently left by the tide and with 

 polypes living, the general colour is bright amber, but soon 

 changes to a dull brown. An inhabitant of deep water, 

 and occasionally brought up in the dredge-net. We 

 sometimes see it exposed in the market, growing on 

 oysters. 



Sertularia filicula (Fern Coralline). This common, but beau- 

 tiful species, is frequently found with its polypes alive, 

 growing on sea-weed, and, like the last species, is much 

 encrusted with Lepralia and Serpulae ; it will live for a 

 considerable time if well supplied with sea-water, and, 



