Microscopical Society of Victoria. 47 
sufficiently long to satisfy me on this point. Although frequently 
moving out and in, the animals seemed to be exceedingly cautious 
and shy. * While other species would seem oblivious to severe 
shaking of the table or the microscope, this one would instantly 
vanish from view on the merest movement of the fine adjustment, 
so sensitive was it to external influences. The avicularite in this 
species affords a good sight of the muscles and their action in 
closing and opening the mandible. This snaps upwards sharply, 
and re-opens just as quickly. 
Bicellarm ciliata is another lovely species, but difficult to make 
out, owing to the long spinous processes that form a sort of cage 
about the cells, thus interfering with definition. As well as I 
could make out there seemed to be about twenty tentacles on each 
polyzoon. The spinous processes seemed to be immovable. 
Of Gaba'ea lata I got a fine specimen, but unfortunately it got 
so covered with dirt while bringing it home in a bottle with other 
objects, that it never could, or never would, display its tentacles. 
The only motion to be seen was in the vibraculse, which, in this 
instance, were very busy; certainly they had a heavy job of 
cleansing to do. On this specimen the ovicells were numerous, 
and very transparent. The ova were granular, and of a bright 
scarlet colour. 
This species is specially interesting to me as being the first 
Polyzoon I had ever seen alive. On a previous occasion, some 
years before, I had got a fine branch of it, and was of course 
charmed. The motion of the vibraculse was strong, and the animal 
fairly extended. Being anxious that others should share my 
pleasure, I sent for two friends, gentlemen of scientific tastes. 
They were very anxious to verify my remarks, and watched 
the specimen carefully for about an hour, but to my intense 
chagrin, could not observe the slightest sign of life. All was 
quiet. Five minutes after they had left every spine was in rapid 
motion, waving and jerking in every direction in the most excited 
manner, as if amused at my disappointment. 
Of Membranipora pilosa, a very common species, found 
encrusting seaweeds of various sorts, I may remark that for 
liveliness it presents a strong contast to Catincdla formosa. Every 
polyzoon fully extended ; tentacles, twelve; movements very 
D 
