164 ZOOPHYTA ASTEHOIDA. 



las also tells us that his Pennatula cynomorium ditfers from the 

 Alcyonium only in this, that the former is a moveable, and the 

 latter a fixed polypidom ; and he saw with equal clearness, the 

 connection which exists between these genera and the shrub- 

 like Gorgonia. Of the Pennatula mirabilis he had entertained 

 doubts whether it was not rather a species of Gorgonia until 

 he perceived that the stem was attenuated at each end and free ; 

 and of the Sea- Pens generally, Ellis remarks, that they are " a 

 genus of zoophytes not far removed from the Gorgonias, on ac- 

 count of their polype mouths, as well as having a bone in the 

 inside, and flesh without." On the other hand the Gorgoniae, 

 says Pallas, seem, with the exception of their horny skeleton, to 

 be nearly similar in structure to the Alcyonia ; but as there are 

 species of Gorgonia which are suberose internally and almost 

 of a uniform medullary consistence, even this mark of distinction 

 fails to separate the tribes, and we have little left to guide us in 

 arranging these osculant species excepting their external habit, 

 or, if we may so express ourselves, their physiognomy. Gorgonia 

 Briareus has been described by some authors as an Alcyonium ; 

 and Pallas would have enumerated the Gorgonia radicata in the 

 same genus, had not its gorgon-like habit interfered. I am satis- 

 fied that no zoophytologist can examine Ellis's figure and de- 

 scription of Gorgonia suberosa without being convinced that it 

 pertains rather to the congenerous family, or holds at least very 

 debateabie ground between them. 



The names which the fishermen have conferred on the poly- 

 pidoms of this order will convey to the student a better idea of 

 their general appearances than any laboured description. The 

 Pennatuhe in their language are Sea- Pens ; the Virgularige are 

 Sea- Rushes ; Sea- Paps, Deadman's hand or Dead-man's toes, 

 if not agreeable, are yet expressive names for the Alcyonia ; 

 and the Gorgoniae are Sea-shrubs when they branch away irre- 

 gularly, but when the branches inosculate and form a sort of 

 net, they become Sea- Fans, which some naturalist, of more than 

 our usual fancy, has appropriated to the use of Venus — Fla- 

 bellnm Veneris.* 



* Kay has especially culleil attention to the fan-like growth of submarine bodies. 

 — "That the motion of the water descends- to a good depth, I prove from those 

 plants that grow deepest in the sea, because they all generally grow flat in man- 

 ner of a fan, and not with branches on all sides like trees ; which is so contriv- 



