PRIMNOA. 213 
fixed scales. The cells are crowded, bell-shaped, and with 
the aperture, according to Baxter, closed by two valves, 
covered with imbricated moveable scales. The branches 
are dichotomous. M. Lamouroux, who first separated this 
genus from Gorgonia, considers the pendulous cells as the 
polypes themselves.” (Dr. Fleming.) 
This zoophyte is very rare in Britain. It is rare even in 
the Norwegian seas, where the fishermen, on finding it, 
carry it home, and hang it up as a protective charm against 
storms. But it must be only young specimens which they 
thus hang up, for we are told that the fishermen affirm that 
these marine productions grow to the size of large forest 
trees. When their nets get entangled on the trunk or stem 
of the Primnoa, the united strength of several men is un- 
able to free them by eradicating the sea-tree. At times, 
however, they succeed in pulling up the net by main force, 
bringing large branches along with it. They think they 
have good reason to conclude that some of the sea-trees 
are fifty or sixty feet in height. If there be no mistake, 
these are sea-trees indeed ! 
