54 



May 24, 1836. 

 William Ogilby, Esq., in the Chair. 



A letter addressed to the Secretary by J. B. Harvey, Esq., Corr. 

 Memb. Z.S., and dated Teignmouth, May 18, 1836, was read. It 

 referred to a collection of various marine productions of the south 

 coast of Devonshire, which accompanied it, and which were pre- 

 sented to the Society by the writer. These were exhibited. 



Among them was a specimen of Capros Aper, La Cep., captured 

 in Mr. Harvey's neighbourhood : and with the view of illustrating 

 the colours of this species, he forwarded with it a painting made from 

 the fish while yet recent. This also was exhibited. 



With the collection were several specimens of a Tubularia, nearly 

 related to Tub. indivisa, of which Mr. Han^ey furnished a detailed 

 description, accompanied by numerous figures. The description was 

 read, and the figures were exhibited. 



Mr. Harvey first observed the Tubularia in question at the steam 

 bridge on the river Dart, where it grows in clusters between the 

 links of the chain over which this floating bridge is propelled. The 

 specimens obtained by him in this locality were necessarily injured 

 in the hurried manner of taking them off during the rapid motion 

 of the bridge ; but as they were immediately placed in sea- water 

 most of them have survived the force used in separating them, and 

 he has thus been enabled to observe them for a week or ten days, 

 during which he has carefully studied their form and structure. His 

 drawings are intended to illustrate many of the different positions 

 of the polype in various conditions as to growth, expansion, &c. 



" This animal," Mr. Harvey remarks, "is evidently a Tubularia. 

 It is something like Tub. indivisa figured by Ellis, Plate XVI. no. 2. 

 fig. c, but differs in several particulars. The tube of Ellis's Tubu- 

 laria is jointed ; the head has a lateral groove or opening ; and the 

 central projection (which is an elongation of the membrane covering 

 the body) is much larger and higher, and is not surmounted by a 

 row of shght long feelers. This Tubularia (for which," as a distinc- 

 tion, I submit the term Tub. gracilis.) has the tube hollow through- 

 out and single ; the body has no lateral groove ; the central process 

 has a row of fine long feelers near its termination, and placed round 

 the orifice : their office is to direct the food to the mouth. On the 

 circumference of the cup is a row of very long flexible feelers, having 

 much freedom of motion, and between each two of them is a smaller 

 red feeler ; from the circumference to the origin of the central pro- 

 ' cess are two or three confused rows of alternate white and red short 

 papillae, giving the animal much the appearance of a flower. 



