TRIBE I V. A N T I P A T II A C E A. 575 



Attached zoophytes, caulescent, and usually ramose ; forming no coral 

 secretions, except epidermic foot-secretions, which constitute the 

 axis of the branches. 



The Antipathidse, like many Gorgonidae, secrete a corneous axis, 

 which is surrounded by a fleshy covering of polyps; and on this ac- 

 count the two groups have hitherto been placed together. An exami- 

 nation of the animals -of two species has led to an arrangement of 

 them among the Actinoidea, as the tentacles have the naked character 

 peculiar to this suborder, and the polyps closely resemble those of the 

 Madreporae in appearance and habit. The existence of genital lamella? 

 within the visceral cavity has not yet been proved by dissection, and 

 as this is the deciding character, the propriety of the present arrange- 

 ment, cannot be considered as fully established. 



GENUS ANTIPATHES. 

 AntipathidcB axe cornea spinulosce, polyporum crusta omnino carnosd. 



Antipathidse having the corneous axis spinulous, and the polyp- 

 covering wholly fleshy. 



The Antipathes grow either in long stems, or branched in imitation 

 of trees, spreading shrubs, or in fan-like fronds. The horny axis is 

 covered with minute spinules, which character distinguish them from 

 the axes of Gorgoniae. 



Though common in the tropics, they also occur in the temperate 

 zone ; they are not unfrequent in the Mediterranean, and have been 

 found in the seas of Norway. 



Arrangement of the Species. 



I. Quite simple. 



*1. A. spiralis. *2. A. anguina. 



II. Simple, with lateral pinnules. 



3. A. larix. 4. A. eupteridea. 



