ALCYONE^. 69 



flaheUiim, it is not netted. The axis is liorn}^, black, smootli, 

 and shining. The living flesh incrusting the axis is flesh- 

 coloured and soft, but when dead dries into a brittle crust. 

 The polype-cells are numerous ; they form, at least in dried 

 specimens, those wart-like excrescences from which the 

 species derives its name " vemicosa," from verruca, a wart. 

 These warts, when their crust is dissolved, are found to 

 contain the contracted remains of eight-rayed polypes. 



As GoTgoni(B are deep-sea Zoophytes, it will be long ere 

 we can arrange the admission of light, and other circum- 

 stances, in our tanks, so as to suit their habits : ultimately 

 it will no doubt be done. We may yet hope to see both 

 foreign and English Sea-Fans making miniature forests in 

 limited allotments of their native element. 



AlcyonecB. 



The following definition of the family, from one of the 

 Cyclopaedias, may serve to convey a general idea of the 

 economy of these curious Zoophytes. " Alci/onece, a group 

 of marine productions somewhat similar to the Sponges, but 

 more distinctly belonging to animated nature. We are 

 indebted to Pallas, Gartner, Sa\ngny, Spix, and Lamouroux, 



