CELLEPORID.E. 395 



at the base of the tentacles, and others lower down the 

 body of the polype." 



When we consider the minuteness of the delicate little 

 sprig which is the natural size of this polype, we cannot 

 but wonder at the triumphs of the microscope in giving 

 such precise details as Mr. Busk relates of the Notamia 

 bursaria. Its beautiful and perfect organisation, the care- 

 ful provision for the safety and engagements of this 

 minute being, make us awe-stricken at the power of Divine 

 intelligence. 



CELLEPORID^:. A family with calcareous polypidoms, 

 cellular, irregularly-lobed, or branched, formed of pitcher- 

 shaped cells, heaped together or arranged in quincunx, 

 that is, resembling the five on playing-cards. 



On the British shores are found G. pumicosa, G. ramulosa, 

 G. Skenei (named after the talented Dr. David Skene), 

 G. cervicornis, and 0. Icevis. This last, Dr. Fleming says, 

 is " in height an inch and a quarter ; diameter, one-tenth; 

 the branches are smooth, with the orifices of the cells 

 smooth and concave ; towards the extremities the branches 

 are rough with the forming cells, and the orifices are more 

 declining, circumscribed, a little prominent, with a blunt 

 process at the proximal margin." 



Lepralia, "Sea-scurf," from the Greek for marine 

 leprosy, is the name given to this family of the Gelle- 

 poridce by Dr. Johnston. 



Lepralia nitida, found attached to shells, is thus 

 described : " Crust spreading circularly, closely adherent, 

 rather thin, greyish white, calcareous ; cells contiguous, 

 in radiating rows, large, subalternate, ovate, ventricose, 

 silvery, the walls fissured with six or seven cross slits 

 which are on the mesial line ; aperture subquadrangular, 

 depressed, terminal ; anterior to it there is often found a 

 globular, pearly, smooth, oviferous operculum, with a round 

 even aperture. The remarkable structure of the cells 

 renders this one of the most interesting species under the 

 microscope. There is sometimes an appearance of a spine 

 on each side of the lower angle of the mouth, which is 

 merely the commencement of the walls of the next cell." 



L. coccinea, L. variolosa, L. ciliata, L. trispinosa, and 

 L. immersa, are the other British species. 



