14 Natural Hiftory of 



^¥i^Z^A'^°' ^^* Corallina potnata W falcata^ pnnas caiidcs Phafi- . 

 a?ti referens caule gibbofo. 



Corallina fruticofa pe7inata. Barr. Palma Marina. Barrel. 

 Icon. 1292. n. 2. 



Pheafant's-tail Coralline, 



This very rare Coralline grows to the Height of i o or 1 2 

 Inches. The Root, or firft Beginning, confifts of an irre- 

 gular Tuft of extremely fmall Tubes, appearing like a Piece 

 of Sponge to the naked Eye : Several of thefe little Tubes, 

 rifing together, and uniting in clofe Contadl, become a Stalk, 

 which appears in the Microfcope curioufly channel'd and in- 

 dented : On the Back of the Stalk, at nearly equal Diftances, 

 are formed little regular arch-like Riiings, which are com- 

 prefled and hollowed a little in the Middle. 



Fig. ^, N°. 13. in Plate VIII. fhews the natural Appear- 

 ance of this Coralline with its fpongy Root. 



The main Stem is now-and-then ramified ; the Branches 

 are pennated, and the Pe?pice^ or fmall Divifions of the 

 Branches, turn one Way, and, when dry, are bent like 

 a Sickle. 



The Denticles are like Cups with an even Brim, fixed in 

 Sockets, and placed all on the fame Side one above another j 

 the Openings, or Mouths, looking upwards. 



Fig. J^ fhews the microfcopical Appearance of Part of the 

 cribbous Stem, with the Figure and Pofition of the Denticles. 

 No Veficles have yet been difcovered ot this curious Co- 

 ralline. 



This was procured from the Fifhermen that attend the 

 Dubl'm Market ; and was taken up in very deep Water, on 

 that Coafr. 



N°. 14. 



