156 ANTHOZOA ASTEROIDA. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE FAMILIES AND GENERA. 



^simWyl. — PENNATULIDjE. Pol jpe-mass free, pennated, 

 carnous ; the skin spiculiferous ; the axis bony, simple, continuous : 

 polypes arranged along the margin of the pinn^. 



Polypes on bipennated wings : — 



Polypidom plumous .... Pennatula. 



Polypidom virgate .... Virgularia. 



Polypes unilateral, sessile : — 



Polypidom linear- elongate . . . Pavonaria. 



Family II. — GORGONIADJE. Polype-mass fixed, arborescent; 

 the axis covered with a thick cretaceo-gelatinous celluliferous crust : 

 polypes scattered over the whole surface. 



Cells for the polypes immersed .... Gorgonia. 



Cells subpedunculated, protruded . . . Primnoa. 



Family III. — ALCYONIDJE. Polype-mass fixed, coriaceous or 

 somewhat carnous, without any distinct axis, but strengthened by 

 variously disposed calcareous spicula : polype-cells subcutaneous, 

 scattered over the surface. 



Polypes aggregate ..... ALcroNiuM. 



Polypes segregate ..... SARCODicTroN. 



