182 M.Valenciennes on the Gorgonidse. 



Genus Phyllogorgia. Sclerenchyma with foliaceous expan- 

 sions ; branches of the sclerobase with frequent anastomoses. 

 Sp. dilatata and folia fa, Yal. 



Genus Rhipidigorgia. Branches of sclerobase rounded, fre- 

 quently anastomosing to form a flabelliforni network. 



Sp. umbraculum, Lamk., fiabelluin, Linn., and 6 other 

 species. 



Family II. Gorgonellace.^. 



Axis effervescing with muriatic acid. 



Genus Junceella, Val. Stems straight, covered with polypi- 

 ferous cells scattered upon the sclerobase. 



Sp. juncea, surculus, vimen, elonyata, calyculata and hystrix, 

 Val. 



Genus Ctenocella, Val. Sclerobase forming straight rods, 

 pectinated on one side only of the principal stem. 

 Sp. pectinata, Val. (China.) 



Genus Gorgoxella, Val. Sclerobase much divided, forming 

 fine branches. 



Sp. viulacea, Lamk., sarmentosa, Lamk., and 3 others. 



I have extended my researches to other polypes of different 

 families, and they have given me the opportunity of observing 

 several facts which have escaped previous observers, and which 

 will serve to rectify some faulty diagnoses. The coral-fishers 

 agree in saying that the extremities of the branches of coral are 

 soft when first taken from the sea, and that they only become 

 hard by desiccation. The truth of this may be ascertained by 

 examining coral preserved in spirits. 



On dissecting the Mehtfea ochracea, Lamk., the parenchyma 

 of the sarcoid envelope of the common body is seen to extend 

 along the stems, and between the calcareous masses, of which 

 the articulations of the sclerobase are composed. But it is in- 

 correct to say that this sclerobase is composed of a series of 

 joints separated by a corky tissue : it is the desiccation of the 

 parenchyma that renders the separation of the joints too easy. 

 Lamarck only examined dried individuals. 



The sclcrites of the Melitaa are small, scarcely measuring 

 from 0'08 to O'lO of a millimetre. They are smooth, cylin- 

 drical, rounded at both ends, and of a fine orange colour. These 

 are mixed with others, of a longer form, and pointed at the two 

 extremities; their colour is yellow and they measure 0'15 of a 

 millimetre. With these sclerites I iiave seen others much smaller, 

 measuring only O'Ol to O'OG of a millimetre, of a fine orange- 

 vellow colour, and furnished with two whorls of tubercles. 



