59 



in thickness, and raarkeil with stellate depressions, beneath 

 which the polypes lie hid ; in this state it is called Sea 

 Scruff". In a more advanced state, the crust j^els thicker 

 and rises into nipple-like processes, in which state the fish- 

 ermen call them Teats, and in the north of England Cows* 

 paps, each of which is characteristic of its form. As it still 

 further advances in growth, it becomes an irregular lobulated 

 spong}^ mass, and in this state acquires the not very elegant 

 name of Deckdnimi's toes or Deadman's hands. 



Externally it is of an orange colour, and is marked with 

 stellate depressions of eiii;ht rays, answering to the number of 

 the tentacula of the polype. The skin is tough and coria- 

 ceous, with minute calcareous points. In a longitudinal 

 section, the substance is found to be composed of tubes which 

 proceed from the base of the cells through the mass and 

 variously anastomose with each other ; so that an inter- 

 change of communication is kept up between each polype and 

 the whole mass. From this frequent interchange of com- 

 munication, the whole mass has a hard sponay texture. 

 The spaces between the inosculating tubes, are filled up with 

 a fine tubular net work ; in which is diffused a semi-trans- 

 parent gelatinous substance; having imbedded in it serrated 

 irregular spicula. The tubes are composed of two, if not 

 three layers of tissues; a cartilaginous, muscular, and mem- 

 branous tunic, each of which also assists in forming the 

 base and sides of the cells. 



The polypes are semitransparent and conoidal; the apex 

 is truncated, the centre of the surface is occupied by the 

 mouth, and the circumference surrounded by eight fringed 

 tentacula. The mouth opens into a membranous stomach 

 which is freely suspended in the transparent tube forming the 

 body of the polype. The space between the stomach and the 

 external wall of the animal, is divided into longitudinal com- 

 partments by eiglit thin membranous septa, which unite the 

 stomach and external parietes together, and keep the stomach 

 in situ. At the base of the stomach is an orifice, which from 

 being larger at one time than another, is probably of a mus- 

 cular nature; around this orifice are suspended eight opaque 

 filamentous threads which hang loosely in the cavity below. 

 These threads, are probably subservient to the function of 

 digestion, and partake of the character of a liver. The 

 cavity in which these filaments are suspended, which may be 

 considered as the abdomen of the animal, cummunicates with 

 the tubes which traverse the polype mass. The ova, which 

 are numerous, are formed in the sides of the tubes, and 

 escape through the opening at the base of the stomach, into 

 that cavity, and iroai thence, through the mouth into the 



