368 



DISTOR TED SPECIMEN. 



Fig. D represents a curious species, called from its shape Discopora patina, the former 

 word being of Greek origin and given in allusion to its disc-like form, and the latter being 

 a Latin word signifying a Hat dish like our present champagne glasses. The numerous pores 

 or orifices through which the animal protrudes, are seen upon the surface. A magnified 

 example of the same species is seen at Fig. E, having been broken asunder in order to show 

 the manner in which the cells are massed together, so as to produce a honeycomb-like aspect 

 at their mouths. If the reader' will compare this with the last-mentioned species, the evident 

 connection between the two will be readily perceptible. 



POLTZOA. 

 A. Alecio dicholoma. rs. Alecto dichotoma. x C. Tubulipora serpen? 



F. Discopora patina, x (Contorted.) 



E. Discopora patina. - 



(The sign x signifies that the object is magnified.) 



D. Discopora patina. 



A very remarkable modification of the same species may be seen, rather magnified, at Fig. 

 F. The original gemmule from which the whole mass sprang had made a mistake in its settle- 

 ment, having fixed itself upon a slender stem where it could find no space for its expansion 

 into the normal circular form. Being fixed, it could not move, but philosophically made the 

 best of the situation, and finding itself unable to spread into a single disc-like body, and 

 equally unable to extend beyond the supporting substance to which it was affixed, adopted a 

 compromise, and coiled itself into the singular form here represented. 



Otr next group of 

 polyzoa exhibits some 

 very remarkable forms. 

 At Fig. A is seen a speci- 

 men of the Serialaria 

 lendigeri, a species which 

 without the aid of a lens 

 presents no particular 

 points of interest, but, 

 when magnified, is seen 

 to be a really curious 

 being. Two branches of 

 this creature are repre- 

 sented at Fig. B, as seen 

 when moderately magni- 

 fied, and the further 

 details of its structure 

 are given at Fig. C, where 

 the polypes are shown protruding from their bases, and the peculiar dottings of the cells 

 are seen. It will be noticed that the cells are gathered into groups, connected with each 

 (it her by the stalk-like processes of the polyzoary. 



A. Serialaria lendigeri. 

 ]t. Bowerb&akia imbricdia. 



The »ign 



FOLYZOA. 

 B. Serialaria lendigt ri. * 

 E. HowerbdnMa imbricata. 



C. Serialaria lendigeri. x 

 F. BusUa nilens. 



signifies that tin' object is magnified 



