82 Mr. E. Forbes's Contributions 



and distinguish it at once from all its tribe. Its general form 

 and calycine rim approach to tiie Actinea bellis and some other 

 species appertaining to the genus Actinocereus of Blainville. 

 The epidermis and the imperforate tentacula separate it from 

 Ehrenberg's restricted genus Actinea, and the absence of 

 dermal pores from his Cribriaa ; neither of which divisions, as 

 defined by that naturalist, I am inclined to admit, and therein 

 agree with my friend Dr. Johnston. It is more nearly re- 

 lated to the Zoanthidce than any known species of its family, 

 and presents a most interesting transition from the typical 

 Actiniada to that tribe. The regular form of the singular 

 epidermis would lead us to consider that appendage as an im- 

 perfect tube, and some curious analogies might result from 

 such a view. Both the number of the tentacula and of the 

 clefts or lobes of the epidermis being multiples of four, is im- 

 portant, as supporting the notion that four is the typical or 

 dominant number of the Actiniada, perhaps of all Zoophytes. 



On account of the above characters, I have thought it right 

 to constitute a separate genus for its reception under the 

 name of Capnea (from Kairvq, a chimney), and define it thus : 



Body cylindric, invested in part by a lobed epidermis, and 

 adhering by a broad base. Tentacula simple, very short, re- 

 tractile, surrounding the mouth in concentric series. 



Sp. Capnea sanguinea, Forbes. 



Tentacula arranged in three series, sixteen in each. Body 



and disc scarlet. Epidermis brown. 

 Hub. Deep water, Irish Sea ; among Millepora. PI. I. fig. 



1, a, b, c, d. 



II. A British Hippocrene. 



The genus Hippocrene was constituted by Brandt for a very 

 curious and beautiful little Medusa observed by Martens in 

 Behring's Straits, and which had been previously described 

 by Lesson, who had it from the Malanine Isles, under the 

 name of Cyaneea Bugainvillii. Lesson afterwards re-named 

 it Bugainvillia macloviana, but Brandt's generic name takes 

 precedence by right of priority. The generic character de- 

 pends on the production of the mouth into a sort of trunk, 

 which has wing-like appendages at its sides, and terminates 

 in four branching tentacular arms. From each of the ajapen- 

 dages runs a canal to the margin, where we find the tentacula 

 collected in fascicuh, and not surrounding the edge, or sepa- 

 rate, as in most allied Medusae. 



When naturalizing on the north coast of Ireland with Mr. 

 Smith, of Jordan Hill, in 1839, I took a number of Medusae 



