90 CLASS I.— ORDER II. 



flexible, and sometimes thinly incmsted at the lower 

 part with a calcareous substance ; and this part is al- 

 most always found devoid of polypiferous cells. 



The form of these Polypidoras varies more than 

 those of other genera ; but the same generic character 

 is observable, that of having their cells supported on 

 a short pillar. 



Their substance is horny, membranous, sometimes 

 slightly cretaceous. 



The colour varies according to the species ; there 

 are some of a deep brown fawn, and others of a bright 

 clear yellow fawn. 



Their height is also various, exhibiting every inter- 

 mediate gradation from two centimetres to two or 

 three decimetres. 



These Polypidoms are found in all seas, sometimes 

 parasites on the Thalassiophytes, and at others ad- 

 hering to rocks by more or less numerous fibres of 

 greater or less extent. 



ANTIPATHES. 



1. Laomedea antijmthes. Stem rugged, branch- 

 ing, and bushy ; branches pinnated ; cells campa- 

 imlated, and dispersed on the branches and shoots ; 

 pedicle rising from a flat base ; colour red-brown, 

 sometimes greyish ; height a decimetre. — Plate 6. 

 fig. 1. a. B. 



Australasia. 



LESAUVAGE'S. 



2. Laomedea Saiivagii. Stem but slightly branch- 

 ing, and fistular ; from a millimetre to a millimetre 

 and half in diameter; cells campanulated, and very 



