15 



tentacles are elongated and lobed only towards their extremity and 

 upon part of their sides. In Hajcyonium the tentacles are triangular 

 and the longer lobe is terminal, while in Gorgonia the tentacles are 

 rounded and the lobes more uniform. The species of Gorgonia 

 which I have examined is Gorgonia virgulata. The numerous varieties 

 which occur in Charleston Harbour should induce some Naturalist to 

 enter upon a very minute investigation of the structure and develop- 

 ment of that species, in order fully to ascertain what are the changes 

 which it undergoes with age, and what are the natural limits of the 

 species in this genus ; for the species are so numerous, and they all 

 seem to vary so much, that until a complete monographic investiga- 

 tion of one species has been made, it will be impossible to determine 

 with precision foreign species which have not been observed carefully 

 in a fresh state. 



The variations of color which occur in this species are very 

 remarkable. I have seen specimens growing together, and undoubt- 

 edly belonging to the same species, which w T ere light yellow, and 

 almost white, passing into a dark yellow tint ; others light orange ; 

 others dark orange ; then light purple varieties ; others almost pink, 

 or bluish purple, and some perfectly white as pure chalk. It is really 

 a wonderful sight to behold these varieties growing together in clear 

 water and spreading over considerable surfaces with all these colors 

 mingled. From the same stone specimens will arise of all these diffe- 

 rent hues. At times stems of one color will grow from the bore of 

 stems of other colors ; but I have never been able to discover a 

 branch of another color upon the same stem, or the stems of different 

 colors arising from the same base. Wherever this seems to be the 

 case, upon close examination it is always found that the parts differ- 

 ing in color have distinct origins, although they may grow upon each 

 other, as they all grow upon stones or other sub-marine bodies. 



Although it may be difficult to raise eggs and see the whole pro- 

 cess of development, it is so very easy to collect a series of speci- 

 mens in all stages of growth, from their first appearance in the shape 

 of minute buds upon the surface from which layer specimens arise, 

 that, for a persevering observer on the spot there will be no difficulty 

 in tracing the whole range of the metamorphoses. I would only 

 mention what an examination of a few days has enabled me to 

 observe, that the new stems sprout in the form of stiff, erect, simple 

 stems ; that more advanced specimens show a simple bifurcation, 

 which will successively give rise to a greater number of branches. 



