1869.] 



CANADIAN ZOOLOGY. 



419 



fection at the mouth of Gaspe Basia, where the specimens repre- 

 sented in the following figures (Figs. 48, 49) were obtained. In 

 this species the tentacles are in two series, the outer series being 

 very numerous, and arranged on lobes of the edge of the disc. 



Fi-. 48. 



Metridium marginatum, Edw. & Haime, (Gaspe.) 



As a native example of the Alcyonoids, we may take the Alcy- 

 onium ruhifornie, (Fig. 51,) which is sometimes cast up in storms, 

 on the shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and may be obtained 

 alive by dredging in deep water. It presents tuberculated yellowish 

 or pinkish masses of a club-shaped form, from an inch to three 

 inches in length, and of a spongy or firmly gelatinous structure. 

 The surface is studded with round or star-shaped cells of small 

 size, from which, when the creature is alive and undisturbed, 

 delicate semi-transparent polyps protrude themselves and extend 

 their tentacles. These little animals can be easily distinguished 

 from those of the last group by their pinnate tentacles, eight in 



