42 ZOOPHYTES. 



may be generated when farther advanced. The fact is not evident ; but 

 all the extremities of this species are obtuse, or nearly so. 



It is the second tallest of the zoophytes occurring to me in the 

 Scotish seas ; and few, if any, with which I am acquainted, unless per- 

 haps the Lobit/aria, surpass it in the quantum of matter. The specimen 

 represented Plate XII. rose twenty-four inches and a half in height ; its 

 greatest diameter being nearly an inch. When I say in height, I must 

 acknowledge my ignorance whether the Alcyonium does not sometimes 

 hang downwards like sponges. 



The variety of form excites much uncertainty regarding the identity 

 of species. There are few such determinate principles regulating the 

 number and proportion of parts among similar products as prove a guide in 

 the higher animals. Therefore, great latitude prevails. The specimen, 

 Plate XIII., exhibited no less than twelve limbs or prolongations like 

 boughs. Being detached before reaching me, I could not discover what 

 or where was the stem : whether it might not have been ruptured at some 

 inconspicuous spot near the centre. All the parts were nearly round, and 

 the extremities obtuse. The total extent of the specimen was five inches 

 and a half by three and a half; and it was generally of a yellowish colour. 

 Hydra? with about 15 tentacula were displayed from the surface. 



In many specimens the surface is too even and regular to shew any 

 compartments — an embarrassment occurring in various zoophytes, from dif- 

 ferent causes, which deprives the naturalist of a very useful feature. 



The same product, as I conjecture, assumes somewhat a flattened 

 form, irregularly branched, with very obtuse extremities, and obscurely 

 tending to dichotomous structure, as in Plate XIV. This, which is repre- 

 sented of the natural dimensions, resembled a very aged tree, with heavy 

 boughs, mutilated, and yielding under the corrosions of time. The lighter 

 and clearer hue of some of the remoter parts would have indicated, in 

 such a tree, some revival of the vegetating principle. 



The same translucent character, as more or less incident to the tribe, 

 distinguished this specimen, whereon also, to the cursory spectator, none 

 but the smoothest surface appeared. 



