476 THE MICROSCOPE. 



circulation of globules, few in number, and remote, is per- 

 ceived. It sends off numerous branches ; the terminal 

 head of which is oblong, cylindrical, rounded at the end. 

 At the extreme point are fixed four tentacula of the usual 

 form, long, slender, and furnished with globular heads ; 

 one of which is shown at No. 2, detached, and more highly 

 magnified. It is much infested with parasites : a vorticella 

 grows on it, and a sort of vibrio ; the latter in immense 

 numbers, forming aggregated clusters here and there ; 

 the individuals adhering to each other, and projecting in 

 bristling points in every direction. These animalcules 

 vary in length ; some being as long as l-80th of an inch, 

 with a diameter of l-7000th of an inch. They are straight, 

 equal in thickness throughout, and marked with distinct 

 transverse lines ; they bend themselves about with consi- 

 derable activity, and frequently adhere to the polype by 

 one extremity, while the remainder projects freely." 



Some of this family attain a considerable size ; the 

 Corymorpha, nutans, one of the most beautiful of the 

 group, attains a length of four inches and a half. Of 

 the beauty of its appearance, Forbes, who discovered it in 

 the British seas, speaks in the following terms : " When 

 placed in a vessel of sea- water, it presented the appearance 

 of a beautiful flower. Its head gracefully nodded (whence 

 the appropriate specific appellation given it by Sars), bend- 

 ing the upper part of its stem. It waved its long tentacula 

 to and fro at pleasure, but seemed to have no power of 

 contracting them. It could not be regarded as by any 

 means an apathetic animal, and its beauty excited the 

 admiration of all who saw it." The general colour of the 

 creature is a delicate pink, with longitudinal lines of 

 brownish or red dots. The tentacles are very numerous 

 and long, and of a white colour ; and the ovaries, which 

 are situated immediately above the circle of tentacles, 

 are orange. Most of the Tubulariadce inhabit the sea ; 

 one species, the Cordylophora lacustris, is found in the 

 dock of the Grand Canal, Dublin, in water which is per- 

 fectly fresh. 



SERTULARIADJS. This interesting and beautiful family 

 of polypes derive their name from their plant-like appear- 

 ance, and are readily attainable on our own sea-shores. 



