52O 



RADIATES : POLYPS. 



South Carolina and Georgia ; R. Danes, Verrill, on the 

 Atlantic coast of South America ; and R. peltata, Verrill, 

 near the mouth of the Mississippi. 



The Sub-Order Gorgonacea embraces polyps which 

 are cylindrical, short, connected laterally, and which se- 

 crete a solid central axis. It contains Fig. 509. 

 seven families, Gorgonidae, Plexauridae, 

 Primnoidae, Gorgonellidae, Isidae, Coralli- 

 dae, and Briaridae. The forms are exceed- 

 ingly varied, and often extremely delicate 

 and beautiful. They abound in tropical 

 seas ; some species are found in temperate 

 zones. Fig. 509 belongs to Gorgonellidae. 



Fig. 510. 



Fig. 5 



Red Coral, C. rttbrttm, Lamk. 

 Single polyp enlarged. 



Rhipidogorgia flabelhun, Val. 

 Portion of a large frond. 



Vernicella gemmacea, Val. 



Fig. 513- 



Red Coral, Corallium 

 rubrum, Lamarck. 



Primnoa myura, 

 M.-Edw. 



Organ-pipe Coral, Tubi flora 

 syringa, Dana. 



