136 Natural History Bulletin. 



are transparent and large, with a decided tendency to assume 

 a columnar form. Next to these, we find mesodermal cells 

 with large nuclei (fig. 3, d, d), and on the exterior surface 

 endothelial cells with smaller nuclei. 



In this section were found a number of large pear-shaped 

 cells (fig. 3, c, c, c) which resemble nerve cells — more particu- 

 larly the cells of Purkinje found in the cerebelium of many 

 vertebrates. The figure correctly represents the appearance 

 of these cells. 



Nerve cells were found around the gullet of an alcyonoid 

 polyp — Voringia mi?'abilis — by Danielssen which are described 

 as follows: 



"On the uppermost part of the inner surface of the gullet 

 there is found on the ventral side, below, or out- 

 side of the epithelial layer and between it and the connective 

 tissue layer, adherent, as it were, to the first named, a group 

 of oblong cells containing an extremely large nucleus, with 

 its nucleus body surrounded by a rich protoplasmic sub- 

 stance. 



" From this prolonged part, that faces the epithehum, a 

 prolongation springs, which, however, disappears again be- 

 tween the epithelial cells. The other more rounded extremity 

 of the nerve cell does not appear to send out any prolonga- 

 tion. I must consider these large cells as pertaining to the 

 nerve apparatus, and as being unipolar ganglial cells.'" 



The cells which I have figured in PI. V, fig. 3, c, c, answer 

 to this description in every particular so far as can be made 

 out with the objectives at my disposal; hence I conclude that 

 they are probably nerve cells. 



I have been unable to find any mention of nerve cells having 

 been found in Gorgonid^ by other investigators, although the 

 high degree of specialization in the muscular tissues would 

 lead one to expect to find nerves. 



Muscular system. This is more highly specialized than in 



I Norwegian North Atlantic Expedition, 1876-1878. Zoology, Alcvonida. 

 By D. C. Danielssen, p. 7 and Plate I, fig. 31. 



