PIUMNOA. 



213 



fixed scales. The cells are crowded, bell-sliaped, and with 

 the aperture, according to Baxter, closed by two valves, 

 covered with imbricated moveable scales. The branches 

 are dichotomous. M. Lamouroux, who first separated this 

 genus from Gorgonia, considers the pendulous cells as the 

 polypes themselves.'' {Dr. Fleming.) 



This zoophyte is very rare in Britain. It is rare even in 

 the Norwegian seas, where the fishermen, on finding it, 

 carry it home, and hang it up as a protective charm against 

 storms. But it must be only young specimens which they 

 thus hang up, for we are told that the fishermen affirm that 

 these marine productions grow to the size of large forest 

 trees. When their nets get entangled on the trunk or stem 

 of the Primnoa, the united strength of several men is un- 

 able to free them by eradicating the sea-tree. At times, 

 however, they succeed in pulling up the net by main force, 

 bringing large branches along with it. They think they 

 have good reason to conclude that some of the sea -trees 

 are fifty or sixty feet in height. If there be no mistake, 

 these are sea-trees indeed ! 



