BOWERBANICIA, a genus of zoophytes (q.v.). of the class poiyzoa or bryozoa, order infundibulata, the structure of which has been very carefully studied in the common British species, B. imbricata, one of the most abundant zoophytes on the coasts of both England and Scotland. It grows on sea-weeds, corallines, stones, etc,. between high and low watermark, or in no great depth of water. and forms branching tufts some times 14- in. in height. The branches are smooth and transparent, tubular. filled appar ently with a granular fluid, and crowded with irregularly scattered clusters of delicate horny ovate or ovato-eylindrical cells, which are so transparent as to permit the most easy 'observation of their whole internal structure. The polyps which inhabit these .ells are all connected with the tube of the branch, and so with the common life of the holypidom. Each, when fully expanded, is about one twelfth of an inch in length, and has 10 finely ciliated tentaeula. When alarmed, it contracts very rapidly, the tenta eula being first drawn in, and then the body of the polyp retracted into its cell. The organization is much higher than In many zoophytes. The mouth s not lead at once into the stomach, but into a funnel-shaped tube, which contracts into a gullet or trsophafitts. and ends in a globular gizzard, apparently provided with radiating muscular
fibers, and intended for trituration of the food. The gizzard opens below into a hag. which is regarded as the true stomach, and is supplied with a finid, regarded as bile. from minute follicles or sacs in its sides. which follicles are therefore regarded as repre senting the liver. From the upper part of the stomach, near the entrance from the giz zard, arises the intestine. a straight tube which passes up by the side of the gullet, and terminates in an orifice outside the circle of tentacula; the structure thus exhibiting a strong resemblance to that of the aseidian mollusea. When the polyp is retracted, the gullet is bent upon itself. and the tentacula are inclosed in a tithe or sheath formed by the inverted integument. When the polype is vigornus and lively, the cilia of the tentacula are kept in active motion, apparently quite under control of the will of the animal. forming a kind of whirlpool to bring animalcules or organic particles into 1110 mouth.