Observations upon the Growth-rate and Oecology of Gorgonians. 89 



Table 4 shows the nature and extent of the operations performed upon 

 the gorgonians used in the regeneration experiments and the extent of 

 recovery at different times after the operations. 



Table 4. 



Pieces of the regenerating branches of G. acerosa were preserved when 

 the reefs were visited in January 191 1 and sections of this material cut and 

 studied. In this species there is always found a complete layer of coenen- 

 chyma over a denuded area which remains free from polyps for some time. 

 The entodermal canals keep pace with the formation of the other tissues, but 

 it is only after a considerable time that the bud-like swellings of the canal, 

 which mark the points of origin of new polyps, make their appearance. 

 They always follow the same sequence as that shown in the formation of new 

 tissue over a denuded area, appearing first at the periphery of the wound 

 nearest to the uninjured polyps. The formation of new skeletal tissue at 

 the cut ends of the branches takes place very slowly at first. After the new 

 rod of skeletal tissue has reached a diameter equal to that of the older 

 portion the elongation of the branch takes place rapidly. If the living 

 tissue be removed from about the base of the colony, there is, so far as my 

 observations go, little down-growth of the tissues from the cut surface over 

 the naked skeleton. 



