54 



Dcscrijjtions of species. 

 Family VENTRICULID^. 



Character. Structure. Polypidom membranous : membrane com- 

 posed internally of fibres arranged in several usually five* 

 layers of cubic squares, equal, for the most part, in the plane of 

 thickness and of superficies, and connected at all their angles 

 by other fibres having a regular octahedral arrangement : exte- 

 rior to this, both within and without, a dermis composed of a 

 single layer of smaller squares, and in which the polyps are 

 lodged, usually on both surfaces : exterior to this a simple epi- 

 dermis : roots distinct, less regular in structure and without oc- 

 tahedral fibre. 



Habit. One or more central cavity, the principal opening to 

 which is at the top : roots ensheathing base of polypidom and 

 extending below into radicles ; never affixed to solid bodies. 



The details which have been already given render further ob- 

 servations on the characters of the family unnecessary. 



Genus VENTRICULITES. 



Character. Pouch-shaped; varying greatly in size and dilata- 

 tion : cavity single and regular : membrane forming the wall 

 of the cavity either simple and smooth on both surfaces or 

 more or less closely and regularly folded (thus giving it a ru- 

 gose character) : margin of wall thinned or rounded off to an 

 edge : polypiferous on both external and internal surfaces. 



The structure of all the Ventriculidse is obviously designed for 

 the purpose of securing permanence of form, and thus safety and 

 free access of water to all the individual polyps. This object is here 

 effected by two means : first by the very remarkable structure of 

 the membrane already described ; secondly, by the regular, often 

 nearly hemispherical figure which the whole body assumes. 



Specimens of Ventriculites are found of all sizes, and it can 

 easily be understood that, from the earliest period of their deve- 

 lopment, the same general form is assumed, which, as they increase 

 and spread, is still retained. Thus the question of their growth 

 seems to involve fewer difficulties than, at first sight, strike the 

 observer in respect to the other genera. 



The access of sea-water was well secured in this genus, inas- 

 much as, though the folds of some species are close, the expan- 



* I believe it to be always five ; but the difficulty which exists, from the 

 causes already named, in ascertaining these minute points in all individual 

 instances induces me thus to qualify the generality of this character. 



