ZOOPHYTES. 399 



closed — the decomposed, or rather disintegrated, the 

 outline dissolving, and the external cells becoming loose 

 and ragged, and the whole animal losing its definite 

 form. 



One of these specimens, however, while yet alive 

 and active, afforded me an observation of value. I had 

 already associated the form conjecturally with the 

 Hydroid Polypes, and was inclined to place it in the 

 family CorynidcB, considering the arms to be tentacles, 

 and the head-lobe to be homologous with them in 

 character, but abnormal in form. It appeared to be a 

 three-tentacled Ooryne, with the tentacles simple instead 

 of capitate. But while I was observing the individual 

 in question, I saw it suddenly open the head-lobe, and 

 unfold it into the form of a broad shovel-shaped expand- 

 ed disk, not however flat, but with the two halves in- 

 clining towards each other, like two leaves of a half- 

 opened book. This immediately reminded me of the 

 great sucking-disk which, as I lately told you, I had 

 seen evolved from the obtuse summit oi Stauridia jpro- 

 dueta, and confirmed my suggestion of the natural 

 affinities of the foi'm. 



Altogether unlike, in their shape, and in the un- 

 wonted vivacity and peculiarly human character of 

 their movements, all the other members of their natu- 

 ral family that I had ever seen or heard of, these cu- 

 rious creatures have afforded much entertainment, not 

 only to myself, but to those scientific friends to whom 

 I have had opportunities of exhibiting them. "When I 

 see them surrounding the mansion of the Sabella, gazing, 

 as it were, after him as he retreats into his castle, fling- 

 ing their wild arms over its entrance, and keeping 

 watch with untiring vigilance until he reappears, it 



