8z Natural Hiftory of 



CHAP. IX. 



Of the Alcyonium. 



THIS Clafs of marine Bodies is, by Mr. Ray, placed 

 after the Sponges, and is called a kind of Plants grow- 

 ing in Water, formed like Fungus s of various Figures, and ' 

 with different Sorts of Covering ; fome having a gritty, and 

 fome a callous Skin, with a fpongy Subftance in the Inlide. 

 Other Species are of a flefliy Subftance. 



Ccefalp'inus \v2i'$, of Opinion, that this Clafs of Bodies was 

 compofed of the Froth of the Sea, differently modified, and 

 of different Colours, and grew to Rocks in the Manner of 

 Sponges. 



At prefent, we fliall conlider it as confifting of fuch ma- 

 rine Subftances (chiefly the Nefts and Matrices of Sea Ani- 

 mals) as are not reducible to any other Clafs. 



Plate x'vii. N°. I . Alcyonium pulmo'nis injlar lobatum. 

 Fig. b. B. ^^ Pulmo marinus alter Rondeletii 132? R. S. p. 3 1. 

 N°. 3. 

 Sea Fig. 



This Sea-prod udlion is of a dark Olive-colour, of a flefhy 

 Slibftance, and fmells very difagreeably when it is opened ; 

 the Infideis full of little oblong yellow Particles, from whence 

 it borrows the Name of the Sea Fig among the Fifliermen, 

 from whom it was procured, with many other Things of the 

 like kind, at Whitefiahle. As foon as I received it I put it 

 into Spirits, in order that I might examine it more minutely, 

 being thus kept from fl:irinking. 



The 



