BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 189 



1. B. EEGfA, Gosse. "The Scarlet and Gold Star 

 Coral." 



Hab. : Ilfracombe {P.H.G.), Lundy {G.KingsJey). 

 Height ^ — I in. 



Colour. Scarlet, with gamboge-yellow tentacles. 



The corallum of this species may be easily recognized 

 by the septal plates, which are jagged, and are arranged 

 like a distinct six-rayed star. 



Mr. Gosse describes the circumstances of the dis- 

 covery of this coral as follows : " I was searching 

 amongst the rugged rocks that run out from the 

 tunnels, and managed to scramble down into one of 

 the cavities between the rocks. There I found a sort 

 of oblong basin in which the water remained, a tide- 

 pool of three feet depth in the middle. The whole 

 cavity was so smooth that T could find no resting-place 

 for my foot in order to examine it ; though the sides, 

 bristling with Coralline and Zoophytes, looked so 

 tempting that T walked round and round reluctant to 

 leave it. At length I fairly stripped, though it was 

 blowing very cold, and jumped in. I had examined a 

 good many things, and was just about to come out 

 when my eye rested on what I at once saw to be a 

 Madrepore, but of an unusual colour, a most refulgent 

 orange. It was detached by means of a hammer, and 

 proved to be a new and interesting form.'" 



