48 ANTHOZOA. 



vases rear themselves amid the fairy scene, festooned 

 with coral branchlets, and there are solid hemispheres 

 resembling domes bedecked with Polype stars of 

 purple and of emerald green, huge fans expand on 

 every side, and Madrepores are crowded round in 

 turfy clumps to variegate the prospect. Words, 



Fig. 31.— madrepores. 



however extravagant they may appear, can convey 

 no exaggerated impression of such a scene, for fancy's 

 work could never be more strangely beautiful. 

 It is not, however, in their luxuriance of growth that 

 we must introduce the Anthozoa to the contemplation 

 of the student ; we must select a few among the mul- 

 titucjp for special study. 



The Alcyons {Alcyonmm). — Every stroller upon the 

 beach must frequently have found, cast up by the retiring 

 waves, rude sliaj)eless lumps of leathery consistence, 

 known by the vidgar as Cow's paps or Dead mails fingers, 

 names which, however characteristic, are by no means 

 calculated to invite attention. Nevertheless, on placing 

 one of these misshapen masses in a jar of clear sea-water, 

 it will soon present a si)ectacle that must command our 



