Bi hi the ALCYONIUM. 87 
Ni 4. Meyoniuin, fe Gyathus marinus. . 
© Sea Cup. “teh age 
| 3 MA hefe little Cup-like Figures are found on the Coaft of the 
. Te of Sheppey, in Kent, ticking’ to Stones and Shells erect, 
many of them together. When they are firft taken out of the 
Sea, they are of a bright femi-tranfparent yellow Colour, of — 
ahorny tough Nature, containing a vifcid Subftance, with 
many Orange-coloured Seed, or Egg-like Particles, in the 
upper Part of each Cup, as they are reprefented magnified at 
} Fig, C, Plate XXXII. Under it, at Fig. c, is exhibited the 
natural Size, ear ee ily: 
While I was at Ramfgate, in Auguft 1754. I met with 
fome of this Kind; which, upon raifing up the Operculum 
at the Top, I difcovered, by my Microfcope, to be full of 
fmall Periwinkles completely formed. The Figures of thefe 
_ Shells. are defcribed at Fig.c, and a little magnified at Fig. C. 
So that we may properly look upon this Sea-Cup as the 
Ovary to the Periwinkle Shell-fith. Ser | 
It is recommended to the Curious, to obferve at the 
Sea-fide, whether there may not be fome Animal of the Po- 
lype Kind feen at the Top of each of thefe Cups; as we al- 
ready find fomething fimilar to this Contrivance in the Sea- — 
Fig, or farft Alcyonium of this Clafs (See Fig. D, Plate 
MM)ecsa Y stern eee a) ea 
ees. Aoiens feu Tuk es & fpongiofus. KR, S.piatexxxrt. 
Ne. 42. p. AD si Agha talialinne . e Big. d. De : 
Sea: ragged Staff, called by the Fifhermen Pipe-weed, >... 
or Pudding-weed. is tate, 
it ‘This irregular-fhaped yellow fizy Subftance, reprefented 
- inPlate XXXII at Fig. d, is found adhering to moft kinds 
ee rs “t | of 
