318 
Z. ASCIDIOIDA. 
Alcyonella. 
it passes to the stomach, where it remains for some time, and then is 
voided upwards in small round pellets, (which at first I imagined to 
be its eggs,) through the gut, whose exit is near a neck, where it 
was first taken in. 
u The body of this animal consists of three parts or divisions, in 
the uppermost whereof all the aforementioned intestines are con- 
tained, though they are not to be distinguished when the creature is 
hungry ; but after it has eaten they become distended and opake, and 
may very plainly be discovered. The other two divisions (the lower- 
most of which I take to be fixed to the bell or outward case,) seem 
of no other service than to give the creature power of contraction 
and extension. 
44 The arms seem not able like those of the common Polype to 
contract or shorten themselves ; but instead thereof, when the ani- 
mal retires into his case, they are brought together in a close and cu- 
rious order, so as easily to be drawn in. Their general figure when 
expanded is that of a cup, whose base and top are of an horse-shoe 
form ; but they present sometimes a very different appearance, by 
separating into four parts, and ranging themselves in such sort as to 
represent four separate plumes of feathers. 
44 I could never discover any eyes they have, and yet find some 
reason to believe they see : for on being set in the light of the sun, 
or a candle, or brought out of the dark into daylight, though con- 
tracted before and retired into the bell, (as indeed they generally are 
when in the dark,) they constantly extend their arms for prey, and 
shew evident signs of being pleased. 
44 Besides the particular and separate motion each of these crea- 
tures is able to exert within its own case and independent of the rest, 
the whole colony has together a power of altering the position, or 
even of removing from one place to another the bell or common ha- 
bitation of them all. Hence this bell is seen sometimes standing 
perfectly upright, sometimes bending the upper part downwards. 
4f It has been mentioned already, that between ten and fifteen of 
these animals dwell together, as it were a little community, in one 
bell-like case or common habitation : but their number increasing, 
this bell may be observed to split gradually, beginning from about the 
middle of the upper or anterior extremity, and proceeding downwards 
towards the bottom, till they separate at last entirely, and form two 
complete colonies, independent of each other ; one of which some- 
times removes itself to another part of the vessel. The manner how 
the single animals propagate I have not been able to discover, though 
