632 Volcanoes, 



branch being terminated with a clubbed head, of a reddish 

 colour, set round with globular- tipped tentacula, irregularly 

 disposed. These tentacula can bend themselves at will, and 

 tliey adhere tenaciously to bodies that come within their reach, 

 probably by suction. 



The stalk of C. glandulosa is horny, and filled with a softer 

 pith, or medullary matter, that runs in a continuous line through 

 all the branches, enlarges itself in the heads, and even seems 

 to run up the centre of the tentacula, where it is distinguished 

 by its greater opacity. There is, however, no opening on the 

 apices of the branchlets, for the sheath covers all in ; and 

 although Lamarck and others introduce a "terminal mouth" 

 into the generic character, and, moreover, tell us, that it 

 is very evident, and contracts and dilates itself in a remark- 

 able manner ; yet I feel assured that the species before us has 

 no such aperture. The food appears to be imbibed through 

 the tops of what are called the tentacula, but which, I think, 

 are more properly reduced polypes ; that is, polypes without 

 a circle of tentacula around the oral entrance. I have come 

 to this conclusion, because of the irregularity of their dis- 

 position ; because of their structure, which is not exactly 

 similar to that of the tentacula of other polypes ; and because 

 they cannot possibly be of the least service in conducting food 

 to a terminal mouth. 



The relations of C6ryne are imperfectly known. Lamarck 

 and Cuvier place it amongst the naked polypes, or such as 

 have no sheath to cover the body. But Coryne has a cor- 

 neous investing sheath, altogether like that of the Sertulariadae. 

 Dr. Fleming considers it *' as one of the Tubulariadae, having 

 a reduced sheath, and agreeing in the tentacular origin of 

 the ovaria;" and in this opinion I feel so disposed to ac- 

 quiesce, that, in an arrangement of these productions, I would 

 not place these genera far asunder, and certainly not in 

 separate orders, as this last naturalist has done, in obedience 

 to the dicta of others, and in contrariety to his own judgment. 



George Johnston. 

 Bei^ick upon Tweed, May 17. 1832. 



Art. VII. Volcanoes. By W. M. Higgins, Esq. F.G.S., and 

 J. W. Draper, Esq. 



{Continued from p. 272.) 



^ The Geographical Position and History of Active Volcanoes: 

 Europe. — The number of active volcanoes with which we are 



