Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/127

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MARINE ZOOLOGY height, pinnately branched, stout, and with calycles lateral and opposite, to alternate. They are ovately tubular and bent slightly outwards. The capsules are oval and wrinkled. Common upon scallop s'lells, etc., from moderately deep water. Hast- ings. 43. Sertularia argentea, Ellis and Solander. Stems of considerable length, gyratory, giving off around the axis short branches in a palmate manner. Calycles sub-opposite ; apertures sharply pointed. Capsules shield- shaped. From moderate to deep water ; not uncommon. Hastings. 44. Sertularia cupressina, Linnaeus. Stems very long, branches short and palmate, the zoophyte as a whole tapering to a point in a somewhat snake-like manner. The calycles are sub-opposite, diverge very little from the stem and have sharply- pointed margins. Capsules narrowly shield- shaped. Hastings specimens are rather inferior in size and condition. Common from moderate to deep water. Hastings. 45. Hydrallmania falcata, Linnaeus. Stems long and gyratory, giving off around the axis pinnate branches. The calycles are ovately tubular, borne crowded upon the upper sides of the branches, and almost in the same straight line. Their apertures are turned alternately to the right and left. Capsules ovate ; very common from the coralline zone. Hastings. Plumulariid^ 46. Antennularia antennina, Linnaeus. Stems simple, long and straight, from which are given off radiately at frequent nodes along the axis, short delicate sprays of equal length. The calycles which are cup- like are borne in a single line upon the upper sides of these sprays, and with them are associated the peculiar organs called nematophores. The capsules are ovate. Hincks gives 8 or 10 inches as the height of this species, but the writer has obtained it 18 inches in length from the Diamond Ground, where it is common. This zoophyte is much frequented by the Nudibranch molluscs Doto coronata and D. pinnatifida, which attach their egg-bands to its stem. Hastings. 47. Antennularia ramosa, Lamarck. The most striking feature of this species is that it branches and rebranches. The stem is compound, a cross-section of it showing a large central tube with many minor ones, varying in size and overlying one another, running parallel with it, the whole being welded together. The tubes communicate one with the other, thus indicating the continuity of the coenosarc. The calycles and nematophores closely resemble those of the last species, as do also the capsules, but the latter taper towards the base and are curved. Common upon scallops and rock from the Diamond Ground. Hastings. 48. Aglaophenia pluma, Linnasus. This species envelops the stem of Halidrys siliquosa in a loose stolonic mesh, giving off beautiful plume-like branches with irregularly toothed calycles arranged in single line upon the upper surfaces of the pinnae. Associated with the calycles are three nematophores, two lateral and one median. The capsules are ribbed, the ribs being armed with nematophores. Plentiful upon the beach, after rough weather. Hastings. 49. Plumularia pinnata, Linnasus. A very delicate and beautiful species growing in tufts of plume-like stems. The calycles are shallow and cup-like, and arranged singly upon the upper sides of the pinnse. There are two nematophores, one above and one below each calycle, and one generally situated in the axils of the pinnae. The gonophores are conspicuously and closely set upon each side of the stem. Hincks observes that the calycles are only separated by a single joint. This does not always appear to hold good with Hastings shore forms, in which there are sometimes two joints. The form from deeper water is much larger but not of frequent occur- rence at Hastings, where the shore form is always in profusion on rocks, stones, shells, sponges, etc., at low water. Hastings. 50. Plumularia setacea, Ellis. A most delicate species, almost escaping detection. Readily distinguished from P. pinnata by the long drawn out, narrow- necked capsules, when present, or by the difference in the character and number of the nematophores. Taken upon Antennu- laria from deep water ; rare. Hastings. 51. Plumularia obliqua, Saunders.* Hastings. 52. Plumularia similis, Hincks.* Hastings.