290 



D'wellcrs of the Sea and Shore 



long, and without branches. Still others are unbranched 

 spirals, several feet in height. These are sometimes 

 known as sea whips. In all Gorgonias the horny axis 

 Is covered with a layer of living polyps so closely united 

 that they form a solid sheet of animal matter. This 

 contains numerous small spicules of carbonate of lime, 

 giving it a barklike, or crusty, appearance. 



SPICULES OF GORGONIA. (GREATLY ENLARGED.) 



The sea pens are so named because many of them 

 look very much like the quill feathers that are used for 

 pens. Some of the species resemble ostrich plumes. 

 The polyps are arranged along the upper part of the 

 lateral branches, separate from one another. The cen- 

 tral axis is naked below, and this part is burled in the 

 sand. Some sea pens are capable of great expansion 



