ALCYONE^E. 71 



of the foam of the sea^ and to have been favoured by Nep- 

 tune so far as to be permitted to hatch its eggs while the 

 waves were kept unmoved for the purpose, — gives its name 

 to this Zoophyte (Plate Y.). It is a curious-looking spongy 

 substance, growing attached to the rocks, in lobes of a buff or 

 fleshy colour. When taken fresh from its element its surface 

 is nearly even, but an attentive examination shows it studded 

 with star-shaped depressions. But if a specimen can be 

 taken living and placed in salt-water with the piece of rock 

 on which it has been growing, it will presently put forth 

 polypes from these depressions, which project from the sur- 

 face in the form of beautiful little flowers with star-like 

 petals. Its appearance in this condition is very elegant, 

 and a microscopic examination of the polypes and of the 

 interior presents new beauties to the view. Each polype is 

 a delicate white tube, nearly transparent, — at least sufficiently 

 so to render visible the interior organs : each is enclosed in 

 a cell, from which, when fully protruded, it is seen to ta])er 

 gradually towards the opening, where it is expanded into a 

 flower with eight petals ; very slender filaments, arched out- 

 wards and with ringed circumferences^ fringe the edges of 

 the petals. The truncated stomach, the bended and twisted 

 threads edging the divided septa of the surrounding part 



