ZOOLOGY. 311 



inches, and the mouth is also small and of a circular form. The eye 

 is about 1^ inch in diameter, and the iris is of a beautiful silvery 

 white. The tongue is prominent, but small, smooth, and fixed, and 

 there are no teeth. 



Only seven or eight species of the Gymnetrus have been recorded, 

 and this specimen is believed to belong to one described by Cuvier, 

 from a specimen which was thrown upon the English coast, and ex- 

 amined by Sir Joseph Banks. It is believed that, though this fish is 

 very rare, specimens of it have been from time to time captured and 

 exhibited, but till now it has never been brought to notice and scien- 

 tifically described. Condensed from the Mag. of Nat. Hist., July. 



DISCOVERY OF CORAL ANIMALS ON THE COAST OF MASSA- 

 CHUSETTS. 



PROF. AGASSIZ, while on an expedition in one of the vessels of the 

 Coast Survey during the past summer, obtained by means of a dredge, 

 from a depth of seventy-t\vo feet, in the Vineyard Sound off Gay 

 Head, several specimens of a coral with its animals. By great care 

 and attention, they were preserved alive in glass jars for more than 

 six weeks, and afforded an excellent opportunity for an examination 

 and observation of their structure and habits. These corals belong- 

 to the genus Astrangia, and have been named by Prof. Agassiz, in 

 honor of Prof. Dana, geologist of the Exploring Expedition, Astrangia 

 Dana. 



This species p'resents two varieties. Some are of a pink or rose 

 color, others are white. The general form of the animal is a cylinder 

 (as of all the Polypi), resting on its base, and expanded on the upper 

 margin. Thus expanded, it is about two lines in diameter. The 

 number of tentacles is definite, but it is not always the same absolute 

 number. It never exceeds twenty-four; in the earlier periods of life 

 there are only twelve, and there is even an epoch when there are 

 only six. 



It is perhaps a matter of surprise that the coral animal should have 

 been found in this latitude. They teem in the warm latitudes ; but 

 there are very few species in the more temperate regions, and but for 

 the opportunity afforded by the Coast Survey, the existence of these 

 animals could not have been suspected on these shores. For many 

 years, however, dead fragments had been found along the shores; 

 but whether they lived there naturally or not, had not been ascer- 

 tained. 



STRUCTURE OF THE CORAL ANIMALS. 



THE following description of the coral animals found on the coast 

 of Massachusetts by Prof. Agassiz was presented by him at the 

 meeting of the American Association : " We have, below the 

 mouth, a small cavity, which is shut by the contraction of the 

 walls, and which, immediately below, expands into a wider cavity. 



