478 THE MICROSCOPE. 



globular animalc lie swam rapidly by one of the expanded 

 polypes; the latter immediately contracted, seized the 

 globule, and brought it to the inouth 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 Thuiarea, 

 so named by him from their 

 resemblance to a cedar-tree ; 

 some kinds look more like a 

 knobbed thorustick 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 



i, pivmiizria pinmaia, Feather polype. hair-like little branches; and 

 j, i>orufii*re*teta, Sea dog. ag the hairy process is con- 

 tinued up its jointed stem, it is sometimes denominated 

 Sea-beard. Dr. HassalFs Coppinia is another veiy interest- 

 ing species. 



The Plumularia, so named from their shoots and 

 oflsets being plumose, are an extensive and beautiful 

 family. Professor Grant thus describes the Plumularia 

 falcata : " The Sickle Coralline is 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 lighkbrown colour, semi-opaque, 

 spherical, composed of minute transparent granule?. 



Fig. 234. 



