Seaside Natural History 



85 



the large " vesicles " or medusa-forming cells are easily dis- 

 tinguished from the others. The Antennularia antennina may 

 be found on most parts of the British coast, but usually only 

 in broken fragments. It grows in clusters, and has as fixation- 

 roots a number of brown tubular fibres which become matted 

 together over fragments of shell or sand. It is often attached 

 to stones or large shells. 



Figure II. shows a portion of another species of Anten- 

 nularia, the polypidom or stem of which is branched {A. 

 hanusa). It is as common as the other. 



Those interested in the development and anatomy of these 

 polypes will find an excellent article from the pen of Professor 

 Ray Lancaster in the twelfth vol. of Encyclopedia Bvitannica, 

 P- 55- 



No. III. — Dead Men's Fingers. 



This plate is a reproduction of the 34th in Johnston's beau- 

 tiful monograph on British Zoophytes. It represents, in the 

 perfection of its living and expanded state, a structure which is 

 very common on the sea-shore almost everywhere, and which, 

 when shut up and dead, is almost loathsome. It has received 

 several somewhat opprobrious names, being known to the 

 fishermen as cow's- paps, dead men's fingers, &c. As picked 

 up on the shore, it usually presents the appearance of a piece 

 of sodden orange-peel. To see it in its beauty and as shown 

 in our plate, a living specimen must be obtained and placed 

 in a pan with fresh sea- water. Under such conditions, after 

 a little rest, it will expand ; from every pore an eight- tentacled 

 polype will protrude itself, and a sight not easily forgotten will 

 be presented. 



The Alcyonium digitatmn belongs to the hollow- bodied 

 animals (Celenterata) and to the family of Corals. Of this 

 family the Sea Anemone may be taken as a type. The term 

 Anthozoa, or Flower-animals, is also frequently and not in- 

 appropriately applied to them. In the present instance each 

 flower may be regarded as a minute Sea Anemone, living 

 7 



