found on the Coast of Northumberland. 317 
extends into a web-like expansion. The cells are conical, termi- 
nating in two unequal points above. Their walls contain linear 
calcareous spicula in bundles converging to these points. The 
polypes also contain spicula. The osselet or central bony axis, 
extending the whole length of the polypary, is linear, cylindrical 
and very slender, but becomes thicker and fusiform towards the 
base. It terminates above in a fine curved filament. 
In the Norwegian specimens the polypary is 26 inches in 
length, and the curve occupies about one-third of the whole, 
whereas in British examples the entire length (in the three 
specimens obtained) is not more than 17 inches, and the curve 
does not exceed a tenth of the whole length. A more striking 
peculiarity consists in the web-like expansion of the polypiferous 
base in the curved portion ; but this may possibly be occasioned 
by the contraction of the fleshy part in drying; and as dead 
specimens only have been obtained, these small discrepancies 
cannot be considered sufficient to constitute a specific distinction. 
Professor Sars describes a fine Virgularia, 40 inches in length, 
belonging to this section of the genus, in the ‘ Fauna Littoralis 
Norvegiz,’ under the name of V. Finmarchica. It was obtained 
by him in Finmark, and approaches very closely in many of its 
Bbaiers to V. Christti. These species differ from Virgularia 
mirabilis in containing calcareous spicula. 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
PLATE XIII. 
. Polypary of Hydractinia areolata on Natica Alderi, natural size. 
- Hydractinia areolata, highly magnified. 
. A portion of the polypary of the same, highly magnified. 
. 4. Medusoid of the same, highly magnified. 
. 5. Atractylis arenosa, natural size. 
. The same, highly magnified. 
. A tentacle of the same, much enlarged. 
PLATE XIV. 
. Atractylis linearis, natural size. 
. The same, highly magnified. 
. Medusoid of the same, highly magnified. 
. Medusoid of Coryne implexa, highly magnified. 
. Campanularia raridentata, highly magnuitied. 
PLATE XV. 
. Corymorpha nana, with medusoid gonophores, magnified. 
- Another individual, with persistent (non-medusoid) gonophores, 
magnified. 
. Medusoid gonophores, more highly magnified. 
. Free medusoids, more highly magnified. 
. Non-medusoid gonophores, more highly magnified. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. ix. 23 
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