ALCYONIUM DIGITATUM. 79 



bank or island. Now, the growth of the insular mass 

 no more depends on the will of the Polypes, of whose 

 branches it consists, than the growth of any other skele- 

 ton depends on the will of the animal whose organs 

 secrete it. 



A very common Zoophyte, frequently thrown up on 

 sandy shores from deep water, very different in aspect 

 from the Flustra, but belonging to a neighbouring 

 family of animals, is 

 what is commonly call- 

 ed Dead-men's Toes or 

 Hands (Alcyonium diyi- 

 tatum). This constitutes 

 a fleshy semi-transpa- 

 rent mass, coated with 

 a tough orange-colour- 

 ed skin and exceeding- 

 ly sportive in shape : 

 sometimes forming a 

 mere crust on the surface 

 of the shell to which it 

 adheres ; at other times 

 pushing up a trunk 

 which divides into fin- 

 ger-like branches. As it 

 lies on the shore it cer- 

 tainly offers few inducements, from its beauty, to re- 

 commend it to further notice ; yet it is one of the many 

 natural productions which only require to be looked at 

 with a moderate attention to elicit from them much 

 that is curious and beautiful in structure. If a piece 



