486 
OBSEllVATIONS ON THE 
remains of the pulpy matter of the polypi, and could only 
describe and delineate the sheath or protecting case. 
Succeeding naturalists, who have attached themselves to 
the study of zoophytes, seem to have been equally un- 
successful, in reference to this species *. Pallas, in his 
" Elenehus Zoophytorum," borrows his characters from 
the imperfect description of Ellis, and seems disposed to 
consider the subject as belonging to the vegetable rather 
than to the animal kingdom : " Structura etiamnum ob- 
scura; et quo magis examino, eo magis corvfervis potius 
quam Sertulariis adnumeranda mihi videtur." P. 125. 
M. Lamouroux, the author of the " Histoire des Poly- 
piers Coralligenes Elexibles,""* appears to have had an op- 
portunity of examining this species ; but in his description 
he adds nothing to the characters previously assigned to it 
by Ellis, excusing himself, on account of the difficulty of 
examining so small an object. He adds, in a note, " Ce 
Polypier doit former un genre particulier, mais il m'a paru 
si difficile a definer, que j'ai prefere me borner a Tindication 
plutot que de mal characteriser ; il est presque impossible 
de le bien observer a cause de sa petitesse ; cependant j'ai 
essay e de rendre dans la phrase specifique de cette Sertu- 
lariee, le peu que j'en ai vu.'"* P. 198. 
* Since the observations in the text were sent to the press, I have had 
an opportunity of consulting the " Zoologia Danica," vol. iii. p. 62. tab. 
cxvii. f. 1. 2. 3. (middle), where there is a description and figure of this 
species by Abildgaard, taken from luxuriant specimens found in the Baltic. 
The figures are good, and the description has been drawn up with consider- 
able care. The author notices the axillary mode of growth, but he heis 
failed to record his observations on the internal structure of the body. He 
states the tentacula as 12 in number. In the course of my observations; 8 
tentacula only were perceived ; and, as I particularly directed my attention 
to this subject, and exercised considerable caution in the enumeration, I am 
disposed to consider the number fixed on by Abildgaard as exceeding the 
truth. 
