their articulations are inflated and filled with minute dot-like granules, which 

 may be either zoospores or spermatozoids. No spores have been detected. 

 The colour of the fronds, when recent, is a deep, full dark-red, fading, on 

 exposure, to pale-green and dirty-white ; that of the tvfts is a brilliant 

 rosy-crimson. The substance is coriaceous, rather soft; in a young state 

 the plant adheres imperfectly to paper in drying, but full-grown individuals 

 rarely do. 



A common inhabitant of the warmer seas throughout the 

 world, often found on coral reefs or on rock of coral formation. 

 With many others which secrete carbonate of lime, it was for- 

 merly classed among the flexible zoophytes, but it has no claim 

 to a place in the Animal Kingdom. 



At Fig. 2 is represented a fragment of a specimen recently re- 

 ceived from Mr. Clifton, and which is in a state hitherto unob- 

 served. Mr. Clifton describes it as presenting a most beautiful 

 appearance when seen alive and under water. Each lip of the 

 expanded branches then bears a tuft of bright-red filaments, re- 

 sembling minute double roses or anemones. Mr. Clifton sup- 

 posed these tufts to be connected with the fructification, and of 

 the same nature as the involucral ramelli of Ptilota and Wran- 

 c/elia, but I have in vain looked for spores or favellse among them, 

 and except the swollen cellules, above described as antheridia, 

 be floral organs, nothing of the kind exists. It is just possible 

 that, at a later period, favellae may be found. 



Fig. 1. Galaxaura marginata, and 2, a fragment with male inflorescence?, — 

 the natural size. 3. One of the " brush-like tufts." 4. Threads from the 

 same, bearing " antlieridia?'''' 5. A longitudinal section of the frond. 

 6. Peripheric cells and medullary filaments from the same : — more or less 

 highly magnified. 



