254 



ZOOPHYTES. 



more than three or four inches long, with a stem 

 about as thick as small twine. Figure g describes, 

 however, the more common appearance of this 

 zoophyte. " It occurs thus/' says Dr. Johnston, 



" in Berwick Bay, growing gregariously on the 

 sides and under surfaces of stones, lying in shallow 

 pools between tide marks, and seemingly giving 

 a preference to shores that contain an impure and 

 brackish water. The shoots are all connected 

 with one another by the radicle fibre which creeps 

 in an irregular manner on the rock, rarely above 

 an inch in height, simple or sparingly branched, 

 consisting of a single tube of a light horny colour, 

 ringed above the origin of the long twisted thread- 

 like stalks on which the polype cells are raised." 

 The vesicles are urn-shaped. 



Both the species of Laomedea are remarkable 

 for the luminous properties which appear to be 

 more or less exhibited by all the transparent 



