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Show 1867.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON ZOANTHINiE. 237 SIDISIA BARLEEI, Gray, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 532, t. 10. f. 6. Zoanthus couchii, var., Holdsworth, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 560. Zoanthus couchii, var. liber, Gosse, Brit. S. Anem. 297, t. 9. f. 9. Hab. Orkney, Brassey Island (Mr. Barlee). II. Coral attached; cells arising from a foliaceous expanded base. 3. EPIZOANTHUS. The base expanded, foliaceous (parasitic on shells); the cells cylindrical, simple, separate from each other from the base; tentacles numerous. EPIZOANTHUS PAPILLOSUS. Spongia suberea (part.), Johnston, Mag. N . H . vii. 494. f. 60. Dysidea 1 papillosa, Johnston, Brit. Sponges, 109. f. 18, t. 16. f. 6, 7; Gray, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 531. Zoanthus couchii (part.), Holdsworth, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 557, t. 10. f. 3. Zoanthus couchii, var. diffusa, Gosse, Brit.Sea Anem. 298,t. 9.f. 10. Hab. Coast of England ; Coast of Massachusetts, U. S. B.M. Dr. Johnston, though he described this animal as a sponge, very justly observed that it was "nearly allied to the Alcyonium ocellatum of Solander (Zoophytes, 180, t. 1. f. 6), whatever that may be." This species is found entirely covering some shells which are inhabited by Paguri, or Hermit Crabs, on the coast of Massachusetts, in North America. Specimens were collected in forty-fathom water by Capt. Mortimer of the ship 'America,' and by him presented to the British Museum and the Free Museum at Liverpool. It appears to envelope more than one species of shell, as the form of some is much more elongated and turreted than others. But the shells are entirely destroyed, probably absorbed by the Hermit Crab to make room for the enlargement of its body; for when the coral mass is cut through, the cavity, which has all the forms of the whorls of a spiral shell, seems only to be covered with the basis of the coral, strengthened by the sandy particles that are imbedded in it. The coral covers the shell with a smooth coat, only leaving the mouth of the shell free for the emission of the crab. This coat is scattered with distinct radiating cylindrical bodies, thickened and rounded near the upper margin; the apex when expanded is flat, with close radiating white lines, and a central circular aperture. One of these bodies is generally placed on the apex of the spire of the shell, and another on the front end of the aperture aud the back of the shell; and the sides of the spire are furnished with from three to eight or nine similar bodies, which diverge from each other. The under surface of the body (that is to say, the part of it that is trailed along the ground as the animal walks) is smooth and free from any of these cylindrical bodies of the Actinia. The bodies differ in length, according to their age and the position they occupy on the surface of the shell, and they always diverge from each other |