198 M. Lacaze-Duthiers on the Structure of Antipathes. 
rays, which are not quite half as long as the body: the last 
anal ray prolonged. ‘The ventral fin extends beyond the origin 
of the anal. Body light brownish, marbled with darker; the 
lower part of the sides of the trunk and tail with numerous 
pearl-coloured vertical lines; belly pearl-coloured. Sides of the 
head with numerous small white ocelli edged with violet. Both 
dorsal fins with large, rather irregular, rounded whitish spots, 
each with a narrow violet edge; there are fine white dark-edged 
lines and dots within the large spots; a narrow, black, blue- 
edged spot behind the extremity of the first dorsal spine. Caudal 
and pectoral fins with white dots, which are mixed with brown 
ones on the lower half of the caudal. Oblique pearl-coloured 
lines behind each anal ray. 
Melbourne. The description is taken from a male specimen, 
5 inches long. 
XXIII.—On the Structure of Antipathes. 
By M. Lacazz-Duruizrs*. 
Two species form the subject of this memoir—namely, Anti- 
pathes subpinnata and A. Larix (Esper, Lamarck). Of all the 
Corals, they are the most difficult to investigate ; and no doubt 
it is on this account that we have so little precise information 
about them. ‘They live at great depths, and are only brought 
up by those coral-fishers who work upon the rocks. They are 
formed of so delicate a tissue that the shortest exposure to the 
air is sufficient to dry them up; and as it is only with great 
trouble that the fishers can be persuaded to keep them in water 
while they are at sea, the naturalist has much difficulty im ob- 
taining them in a fit state for examination. 
In the two species which I have observed living, the polypes 
are regularly arranged in a line upon one side only of the 
branches—namely the upper surface, or that which is opposite 
to the attachment of the polypary. 
Each animal, as observed by Ellis, Solander, and Dana, has 
six tentacles, arranged in a rosette round the mouth. These 
tentacles do not appear to elongate themselves much; most 
frequently they seemed to be merely six large tubercles; but, 
perhaps, in the normal condition at the bottom of the sea the 
elongation may be greater. The body does not rise into a tube 
projecting above the sarcosoma, but only forms a mamilla: in 
this respect it is very different from that of Gerardia. 
The diameter of the rosette of the largest polype in A. sub- 
pinnata does not exceed 1 millim., and it is larger than that of 
A. Larix. Judging from the observations which can be made 
* Translated from the ‘Comptes Rendus ’ for July 25, 1864, 
