310 Mr. Forbes and Mr. Goodsir on Corymorpha nutans, 



maris. This name was objected to by our distinguished 

 friend Mr. Gray, as having been already employed to desig- 

 nate a genus of plants. 



In a rare volume, written in the Norwegian language, en- 

 titled ^ Beskivelser ag Jagttagelser af Polypernes, &c., &c.,' 

 by M. Sars of Bergen, in Mr. Gray's possession, we recog- 

 nised a figure and description of our animal, which had been 

 previously discovered by M. Sars, in the year 1835, and 

 named by him Corymorpha nutans. The work of the Nor- 

 wegian naturalist contains many most important observations 

 on the marine animals of the west coast of Norway ; and, 

 from the intimate relations between the Fauna of that country 

 and that of North Britain, deserves every attention from 

 British naturalists. From having examined many of the 

 animals described by M. Sars, we can bear witness to the 

 accuracy and fulness of his descriptions. M. de Blainville 

 had quoted the volume in question in the Appendix to his 

 useful * Manuel d'Actinologie,' and alluded to the genus 

 Corymorpha, but has so mistaken the author's meaning that 

 it was impossible to recognise the animal by the short de- 

 scription there given. Of course we withdraw altogether our 

 proposed name of Ellisia, and adopt the original appellation 

 of M. Sars. 



As the animal is of great interest to the zoophytologist, 

 being the largest Hydroid polype known, and throwing great 

 light on the structure of its allies in the order Hydroi- 

 deae, and as we have had the most favourable opportuni- 

 ties of examining the creature in detail, having dredged more 

 than twenty specimens and watched them alive, — while the 

 discoverer of the species found but two, and those apparently 

 from his notice thrown ashore in a debilitated state, — we 

 have drawn up the following detailed account from the Bri- 

 tish examples, adding whatever appeared of additional inter- 

 est from that of M. Sars. 



The Corymorpha nutans is about four and a half inches in 

 length, and its stem at the thickest part half an inch in dia- 

 meter. In form it resembles a Tubularia rather than a 

 Coryne ; but not being placed in a strong horny tube like the 

 former, presents much of the habit of the latter. When 



