ZOOPHYTES. 251 



familiarly known by the name of Sickle-beard 

 (Plumulariafalcata). It is common every where, 

 on shells and stones, or often torn from its native 

 spot of growth, lies about the shore, becoming the 

 sport of every wind and wave, when we may find 

 it lying with its stems twisted into diffuse and 

 distant coils, like a lady's ringlet. On a slender 

 spiral stem, usually about four or five inches high, 

 though in extraordinary specimens attaining the 

 height of twelve inches, are feathery branches 

 with little branchlets, about as thick as a common 

 needle, and a quarter of its length. The cells 

 which contain the polypes are not on the main 

 stems, but on the branches and branchlets, where 

 they are placed down the side in rows of little 

 teeth, which bend inward like a sickle. Our en- 

 graving represents them in their magnified con- 

 dition, and the coralline in its natural size. 



The Podded Coralline (Plumularia cristata), 

 though not so general as the sickle-beard, yet is 

 not an uncommon object on our sea-side stones 

 and shells. It is found, too, sometimes on sea- 

 weeds, especially on that common one, the podded 

 halidrys. It has an erect instead of a spiral 

 stem, and is usually smaller than the last-named 

 kind, and being generally of a deeper yellow 

 colour it is much prettier. Ellis compares the 

 polype cells to the flowers of the lily of the valley, 

 and they are indeed like our favourite spring flower, 

 being shaped like bells, with the rim cut into about 

 eight equal segments, while in front there is a 

 strong spiny process, which does not project 

 beyond the cell. The vesicles, or little bladders, 

 plainly seen in this coralline with the naked eye, 

 are described by Dr. Johnston, when seen under 



