BEANIA. 225 



appear to drag a film of the jelly in which they are 

 inclosed. Each granule is hollow at the centre, the 

 cavity being oblong, and connected with the surface 

 by a slender orifice at the interior end of the oval. I 

 am astonished that Van Beneden should say there is 

 no globosity in these tentacles in the active and vigo- 

 rous polypes, and that this is merely the result of 

 contraction. On the contrary I do not believe that 

 the head is capable of contraction ; and I am sure 

 that it is globular in polypes in the highest health and 

 activity. 



I venture to assign to this little Coryne a provisional 

 appellation, subject, of course, to future correction. 

 Its triple head suggests the name of Coryne Cerherus. 



BEANIA MIRABILIS. 



The Beania mirahilis before-mentioned was para- 

 sitical on the same Cellularia avicularia, and con- 

 sisted of only a few cells springing from their creep- 

 ing thread. Dr. Johnston's figure is very good, but 

 the spines in my specimens were more regularly 

 curved, and tapered to a point. Their direction more- 

 over is not fully expressed by him, they shoot partially 

 around the cell, following the curve of its transverse 

 outline, but diagonally also, towards the point. The 

 spines of both series thus curve diagonally towards 

 each other, and if sufiiciently projected, would meet 

 and cross at obtuse angles, and embrace the cell. I 

 cannot see any keels ; the spines appear to me to 

 spring from the smooth glassy side of the cell. 



