ALCYOXIDjE : SARCODICTYON. 179 



are linear-elongate, pointed at both extremities, with uneven or gra- 

 nular spaces between ; sometimes they are simple, and at others 

 united into K-shaped bodies, and occasionally wanting one or other 

 of its members, forming an imperfect K. 



" That this is not a variety of the Alcyonium digitatum seems 

 almost certain. Having had opportunities of examining that species 

 in many thousand instances, from all parts of the Cornish coast, 

 from near the shore to mid-channel, and in all stages of growth, I 

 may therefore be supposed to be familiar with it, yet on my own 

 mind there is no doubt of its being distinct ; and such also is the 

 opinion of others who have examined it." H. Q. Couch. 



22. SARCODICTYON,* E. Forbes. 



CHARACTER. Polypidom incrusting, linear, creeping, anas- 

 tomosing at intervals so as to form a sort of network. Polypes 

 distant, in uniserial prominent cells, the tentacula eight and 



1. S. CATENATA. E. Forbes. 



PLATE XXXIII. FIG. 47. 



Hob. On rocks within low-water mark. Dredged in deep water at 

 Youghal, R. Ball. Loch Fine, Mr. Mac Andrew. It has been 

 dredged by Mr. Mac Andrew and E. Forbes, on the West coast of 

 Scotland, in several localities. 



In the dried state this interesting zoophyte forms a thin crust 

 of a tile-red colour, creeping irregularly, generally in meandring 

 lines, which are broken into a sort of chain, with the round no- 

 dulous polype-cells. These are perforated in the centre, and cut into 

 eight sub-equal, and often indistinct, segments, which have con- 

 verged and met, leaving sometimes a small aperture closed partially 

 with a membrane. The fleshy crust contains spicula similar to those 

 of Alcyonium. " The polypes are yellowish-white. They are ex- 

 tremely sluggish and shy in showing their tentacula, which are eight 

 in number, whitish, of a granular tissue like those of Gorgonia, and 

 solid. I kept many specimens alive for a week, and examined them 

 every day, but could never convince myself they were other than 

 Asteroid polypes, closely allied to Alcyonium." E. Forbes. 



Professor Forbes finds that the polypes in the Pennatulidae are 



* From vaaxoi, flesh ; and Sixruov, net-work. 



^ N2 



