184 Zoological Society :— 
tion, no part of the column was visible, on account of the warted 
tops of the appendages forming an unbroken coat ; when fully ex- 
panded, the soft delicate body was seen between the separated ap- 
pendages, and the upper part near the disk was extended quite clear 
of them for a considerable space. Under the microscope the purple 
warts were seen to consist of an exterior, transparent, colourless coat 
enveloping a body which was purplish at the tip and pale brown 
below. Disk destitute of marginal spherules, not lobed nor extending 
beyond the column, pale brown, transparent, slightly cupped. Ten-~ 
tacles pale brown, simple, subulate, elongated, rather slender, often 
curled, numerous, compactly set in three rows near the margin of 
the disk, beset with minute papille. Mouth half an inch across; 
lips usually somewhat puffed out, and divided by deep furrows into 
six longitudinal ribs on each side; destitute of warts and tentacles. 
Throat of a pretty full brown. No acontia observed. 
But one specimen of this very curious animal has occurred ; it was 
brought to me alive in the month of April last, and was said to have 
been found in one of the cane-work baskets which are sunk to the 
depth of a few fathoms in the Bay of Funchal, chiefly for the purpose 
of taking red mullet (Mullus surmuletus, L., and M. barbatus, L.). 
When I first saw it, only just covered with a little water, it was in a 
contracted state, and my first impression was that a compound Asci- 
dian was before me. After keeping it for three weeks in a small 
tank, I attempted to bring it with me to England in order to show 
it to those interested in this tribe of animals; but being unfortu- 
nately unable to attend to it in the earlier part of my voyage, it 
perished, to my great regret. ne ; 
As to its habits during the time it livedin my tank, I may say, that 
it bore confinement very well, and took its food (the flesh of Patella) 
with considerable readiness,, It frequently shifted its position in the 
tank, and on one occasion it was seen floating base uppermost ; when 
attached, its upper part was seldom destitute of motion, but that 
motion was exceedingly slow. The tentacles were usually more or 
less displayed ; but it has been observed with them so completely 
withdrawn that it was not easy to discover the precise situation of 
the disk and mouth. The tentacles possessed the power of stinging ; 
but, though the skin was made red, the pain was not great. 
Fam. Certantuip&, M.-Edw. 
SACCANTHUS MADERENSIS, Sp. n. 
Column lengthened, worm-like, with a conical imperforate base ; 
skin smooth, apparently without suckers or loopholes; of a pale 
chestnut-brown colour ; enveloped in a loose non-adherent tube ~ 
secreted by the animal, open at both ends. Disk without marginal 
spherules, cup-shaped, capable of being expanded so as to have a 
diameter twice as great as that of the column. Tentacles of two 
kinds : 1st, marginal, twenty-four in number, in one series, but often 
arranged, when fully displayed (and then bending inwards and out- 
wards alternately), so as to have the appearance of being placed in 
two rows; these tentacles are slender, tapering, uniform, longer 
