68 G O R G O N I A. 



atum, attenuatum bafique the ends, as it rifes upwards,. 

 explanation^ te&um carne and fpreads out at the bale. 

 molliori vafculofa et celln- This bony or hard part is co- 

 lofa (fed exficcata, co?i~ vered with a foftifh flefh, full 

 fiftentid fpongiofa et fria- of fmall vefTels and cells, 

 bili ;) which, when dry, becomes of 



a fpongy and friable conuft- 



ence. 

 Ofculis polypiferis nu- Thefe cells are furnimed 



trimentum forbentibus, o- with little mouths, out of 

 viparifque^ inftruBiwi* which the polypes extend 



themfelves to procure nouriih- 



ment, and fend forth their 



fpawn. 



This genus of Zoophytes, being the moft remarkable 

 for its fize, as well as the variety in the confidence of 

 its internal hard part in feveral different fpecies, it be- 

 comes more necefTary to be particular in explaining how 

 the growth and ftructure of it departs from that of vege- 

 tables ; efpecially as the generality of mankind are ftrong- 

 ly prepoffeffed, from their external ramified appearance 

 and other circumftances, that they are really true marine 

 vegetable fhrubs ; others, that they are of a mixt nature, 

 between animals and vegetables. 



In my Effay on Corallines, I have called this genus by 

 the name of Keratophyton ; but as the name of Gorgonia, 

 from Pliny, has been fubflituted by the celebrated Lin- 

 naeus inftead of it, I fhall adopt it accordingly. 



My former defcription of this animal, En ay on Coral- 

 lines, pag. 59. was taken from dried fpecimens, and 

 was as well as their fhrivelled and friable fituation would 

 admit. Since that time, I have had frequent opportuni- 

 ties 



