THE SHORES OF BRITAIN. 



75 



meshes of a net, this species is a very beautiful 

 one. Its polypes, as in the other instances, have 

 eight tentacles. This is exceedingly rare, though 

 it has occurred on the British shores. 



But more singular than either of these is the 

 form of Polypidom, often brought up by fishermen 

 attached to their baits, and by them called Cocks'- 

 comb, or rather more appropriately, Sea-pen (Pen- 

 natula phosphorea) . It very closely resembles a 



Sea-fan (Gargonia flabellum), and Sea-pen (Pennatula phosphorea). 



broad feather from two or three inches in length, 

 and of a purplish colour. The lower part is cy- 

 lindrical, or nearly so, and represents the quill, 

 and the tip of this is tinged with orange. Above 

 this the stem is fringed on each side with very re- 

 gular, flat, dentated processes, diminishing gradually 



