174 ZOOPHYTA A STEROID A. 



polypi, though circumscribed, were so incessant, that by watch- 

 ing attentively I could observe them with the naked eye, and 

 they became more conspicuous as the ova advanced to the open 

 base of the stomach. From their restlessness, as they approach- 

 ed that last passage which separates them from the sea, they 

 seemed to feel the impulse of a new element, which they were 

 impatient to enjoy, and by following the direction of that im- 

 pulse they appeared to find their way into the lower open extre- 

 mity of the stomach, w^ithout any organic arrangement to lead 

 them into that narrow canal. In their passage through the sto- 

 mach, which was effected very slowly, the spontaneous motions 

 of the ova were arrested, unless some imperceptible action of 

 their ciliae, or some contractions of their surface, might tend to 

 irritate the sides of that canal, and thus direct or hasten their 

 escape." 



The native species referable to the Order are not well ascer- 

 tained. They are apparently few in number, but belong to 

 three distinct families. 



Family I. PENNATULID.E. 



Polype-mass free, pennated, carnous, the skin spicuUferous, the 

 axis hony, simple, continuous : Polypes arranged along the margin 

 of the pinna. 



12. Pennatula. Polype-mass plumous. 



13. ViRGULARiA. Polype-mass linear-elongate. 



Family II. GORGONIADiE. 

 Polype-mass fixed, arborescent, the axis covered with a thick cre- 

 taceo-gelatinous celluliferous crust : Polypes scattered over the whole 

 surface. 



14. GoRGONiA. Polype-mass arborescent with a horny continu- 

 ous flexible axis: " cells for the polypi sessile." 



Family III. ALCYONIDiE. 



Polype-mass fixed, coriaceous or somewhat carnous, without any 

 distinct axis hut strengthened by variously disposed calcareous or 

 siliceous spicula : polype-cells subcutaneous, scattered over the sur- 

 face. 



15. Alcyonium. Polypes scattered over the whole surface : the 

 spicula calcareous. 



16. Cydonium. Polype-mass tuberous : the spicula siliceous. 



