GORGONIADiE. 67 



row on each side, but higher up they come in twos and 

 threes, until at the thicker and more bulbous part they 

 form oblique rows of four, five, or six in a transverse row. 

 The flesh is of rosy hue. Each polype is a flower of eight 

 petals or tentacula. This, like Pennatida, gives out a phos- 

 phorescent light when irritated. 



GORGONIA YEERUCOSA. 



The generic characters of Gorgonia are thus described by 

 Johnston : " Polype-mass rooted, arborescent, consisting 

 of central axis barked with a polypiferous crust ; the axis 

 horny, continuous, and flexible, branched in coequality with 

 the polype-mass; the crust, when recent, soft and fleshy, 

 when dried, porous and friable ; the orifices of the polype- 

 cells more or less protuberant.^^ 



We should much like to see this Zoophyte, whose central 

 stem is composed of beautiful branching red coral, grow- 

 ing in the Zoological tanks. Those fair beings, who in an- 

 cient pastoral numbers were courted by lovesick swains with 

 promises of 



" Coral clasps aod amber studs," 



might then see the living founders of a favourite orna- 

 mental production gathered round and conceaUng the co- 



