SERTULAIUAD.E. 



359 



globular animalcule 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 ; these gradually opened again, with 

 the exception of one, which 

 remained folded, with its ex- 

 tremity on the animalcule. 

 The mouth instantly seemed 

 filled with cilia, which, closing 

 over the prey, was carried 

 slowly down its stomach ; 

 here it was imperfectly seen, 

 and soon disappeared. 



Appertaining to this family 

 are Dr. Fleming's Thuriarea, 

 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 

 colour, and covered with Fi g . 192. 



hair-like little branches; and I, Plumularia pinnata, Feather polype- 



as the hairy process is con- 2 ' BO tutercuiata, sea slug. 

 tinued up its jointed stem, it is sometimes denominated 

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

 ing species. 



The Plumularia) so named from their shoots and 

 offsets being plumous, are an extensive and beautiful 

 family. Professor Grant thus describes the Plumularia 

 falcata : " This species is very common in the deeper 

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

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

 The ova are large, of a light-brown colour, semi-opaque, 

 nearly spherical, composed of minute transparent granules, 



