Life Beneath the Waves. 73 



no means inappropriate ; the shape of this 

 unsightly mass frequently bearing a striking 

 resemblance to dead men's fingers, or dead 

 men's toes. 



But if a piece of the Alcyonium digitatum 

 (as " Dead Men's Fingers" are scientifically 

 called) be placed in water, we soon become 

 aware that it possesses various beauties and 

 attractions, and that, instead of being an 

 ugly, inanimate lump, it is in reality a mass 

 of the living creatures called Polypes. 



If in a healthy state when placed in sea- 

 water, the surface of the specimen of Dead 

 Men's Fingers quickly becomes covered 

 with these little creatures, which push them- 

 selves out from the unattractive lump, 

 and entirely change its aspect. The tough 

 mass is the polypidom, or general body of 

 these polypes; and, strange to say, each 

 polype assists to support its companions; 



