THE SHOEES OF BRITAIN. 



G'.i 



natula phosphor ea). It very closely resembles a broad 

 feather from two to three inches in length, and oi 

 a purplish colour. The lower part is cylindrical, 

 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 regular, flat, dentated 

 processes, diminishing gradually to the tip, represent- 

 ing the vane. Along the upper edge of each of these 

 pinnop. are placed the cells, inhabited by minuta 





Sea-fan {Flabdlum Veneris), and Sea-pen {Pennatula phosphorea). 



white, eight-rayed Polypes. The stem contains a 

 long, needle-shaped bone, very slender at each ex- 

 tremity, which is bent backwards so as to form a 

 hook. Some authors have affirmed that the Sea-pen 

 swims freely in the sea by the waving motion of its 

 pinnce ; but modern observ^ations tend to throw dis- 

 credit on this statement, which in itself seems im- 



