BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 195 



BRITISH ALCYONAEIA. 



FAMILY I. ALCYONIDvE. 



Genus Alcyonium, Linnceus. 



Polyp-mass lobed or incrusting, spongious, the skin 

 coriaceous, marked with stellated pores. Interior gela- 

 tinous, netted with tubular fibres, and perforated with 

 longitudinal canals, terminating in the polyp-cells, 

 which are subcutaneous and scattered. Polyps ex- 

 serted. — Johnston. 



]. A. DiGiTATUM, Linn. See Plate XV., fig. 1. 



Lobularia digitata (Flem., De B., Grant), A. lobula- 

 tum [Pall., Lamx.), Lobularia digitata {Eoget). 



Hab. : Generally distributed. 



This well-known species rejoices in a number of 

 synonyms which are very descriptive of its appearance 

 when drawn from the water. " Cow's Paps,"" " Dead 

 Man's Fingers,'' " Dead Man's Toes," are the usual 

 appellations given by fishermen to the species under 

 consideration. The diiference between this zoophyte 

 under water with all the polyps extended, and the 

 same object limp and sponge-like on the sand, would 

 hardly be credited. It is generally found of a greyish- 

 white coloui', but orange or reddish varieties are occa- 

 sionally found. It varies in height and shape from a 

 mere incrustation to a large irregularly lobed mass, not 

 at all unlike a large swollen dead hand, attaining in 

 that form a height sometimes of 10 inches. 



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