F L U S T R A. 



n 



pitula Hydriformia fun- mouth-like openings of its 

 do ad?iata exferentes. 



Ovaria : bullulcz fupra 

 cellulas. 



cells, fuckers or feelers, 

 fhaped like the frefh-water po- 

 lype ; thefe are fixt at the 

 bottom of each cell. 



The ovaries appear to be the 

 pearl-like fluds, which we 

 rind at the tops of the cells. 



This genus was formerly called Efchara, before Dr. 

 Linnaeus changed it to Fluflra. The criticks find fault 

 with him for altering the old name ; for my part, I think 

 he has done it very properly. The name of Efchara fig- 

 nifying the cruft on the flefli that proceeds from the 

 wound of a burn, a term ufed in furgery, and therefore 

 improper : but Fluflra, being derived from (pXoog, teges, 

 a matt, is more defcriptive of the appearance of thefe 

 fubftances, which look as if they were woven like matts, 

 and therefore much better adapted. 



Befides it was neceflary to feparate the membranaceous 

 from the flony fubftances, both of which were formerly 

 under the name of Efchara : otherwife we might as well 

 rank the foft, fpongy and flefhy fubftance, called Alcyo- 

 nium digitatum, or Dead-man's toes, as a Madrepora, 

 there being nothing but the difference of their compo- 

 nent parts that prevents it ; the Madrepora being ftony, 

 and the Alcyonium fpongy. 



i. Fluftra truncata. 



Flu fir a foliacea dicho- 

 foma, laciniis linearibus 

 truncatis, tubulis radica- 

 libus inflru&a. 



Squarc-top'd Sea Matt. 



This Sea Matt grows in a 

 fubdivided manner, with nar- 

 row fquare-top'd leaves ; the 

 bafe is furniihed with adhering 

 root-like tubes. 

 C 2 Fua/s 



