CORALLIFERI. 443 



FAMILY III. 



CORTICATI. 



This family comprises genera in Avhich all tlie Polypi are connected 

 by a common, thick, fleshy or gelatinous substance, in the cavities of 

 which they are received, and which envelopes an axis varying in form 

 and substance. The Polypi of those that have been observed are 

 somcAvhat more complex than the preceding ones, and approximate 

 more closely to the Actini?e. Internally we observe a stomach from 

 which eight intestines originate, two that are prolonged into the 

 common mass, and two that are shorter, and seem to supply the place 

 of ovaries*. 



They are subdivided into four tribes. 



In the first, that of the 



Ceratophyta, 



The internal axis has the appearance of wood or horn, and is fixed. 

 Two genera of them are known, and both extremely numerous. 



Antipathes, Lin., 



Commonly termed Black Coral, where the ramous ^nd ligenous-like 

 substance of the axis is enveloped with a bark so soft, that it becomes 

 destroyed after death, when it resembles branches of dry woodf. 



GORGONIA, L., 



Where, on the contrary, this horny or ligneous substance of the axis 

 is enveloped by a bark the thickness of which is so penetrated by cal- 

 careous granules, that it dries on the axis, retaining its colours, which 

 are frequently extremely vivid and beautiful ; it is soluble in acids. 

 The Polypi of several species have been observed ; each one is fur- 

 nished Avith eight denticulated arms, a stomach, &c. like those of 

 Corallina and AlcyoniumJ. 

 M. Lamouroux separates from them 



* M. Savigny has published some observations on these animals, not less inte- 

 resting than those on the compound Ascidia. 



f Ant. spiralis, Sol. and Ell., pi. XIX, f. 1, 6; and the other species indicated by 

 Lamarck, Anini. sans Vert., II, p. 305, et seq. 



X Ciorgonia pinnata, Gm. ; — G. americana; — G. setosa ; — G. sanguinoUnta,vi\i\c\i 

 Lamouroux considers as varieties of a single species; — G. pefechisans, Sal. and Ell., 

 XVI ■,— G.palula, Sol. and Ell., XV, f. 2, 4:;—G. pahna, Sol. and Ell., XI;— G. ver- 

 riculata, Id. XVII; — G. umhracidum, Id., X; — G. exscrta, Id., XV, 1, 2; — G. cera- 

 tophyta, Id., II, 1, 2, 3 ; IX, 5, 6, 7, 8; XII, 2, 3 ; G. viminalis, Id., XII, 1;— G. 

 verticillaris, Id., II, 4, 5 ;— G. Briareus, Id., XIV, 1, 2, &c. 



gg2 



