Fig, 11. 



FAMILY VI. ALCYONID^. 



14. Alcyonium,* Linnaeus. 

 Character. — Polype-mass lohed or incrusting^ spongious, the 



♦ From Alcyon — the King's-fisher : the word itself signifies " sea-foam" of 

 wbich the Halcyons were supposed to make their nests. See Lib- Entert- 

 Knowl- " The Architecture of Birds ;" p. 45, &c. 



" And every thing dispos'd it to my rest, 



" As on the seas when th' Halcyon builds her nest. 



" When those rough waves, which late with fury rush'd, 



" Slide smoothly on, and suddenly are hush'd : 



" Nor Neptune lets his surges out so long, 



" As nature is in bringing forth her young." 



Drayton's Heroical Epistles. 

 To the reasons adduced by Milne- Edwards for retaining the name Alcyonium 

 to this group, I would add that Lohularia is inadmissible, having been preoc- 

 cupied by the botanists. The Alcyonium of Lamarck is composed of certain 

 sponges, of which the true character remains unknown. 



