THE CCELENTERATA 



45 



On many of our shores the denuded axis of this organism 

 is among the common objects, many persons mistaking it 

 for a branch of heather or of some similar plant, but a small 

 portion placed in the candle flame will reveal its animal 



Fig. 16. A small portion of Gorgonia 



verrucosa, with polypi extruded, 



enlarged 6 times 



origin by the characteristic odour of burning horn nitro- 

 genous fumes. 



The allied forms that is, zoologically allied although very 

 different in outward appearance, are Alcyonium diyitatum, 

 familiarly known as " dead man's fingers." This one forms 

 hard nodular masses on many objects e.g. the" shells of 

 the oyster and the scallop. In these situations it is a 

 common object on the stalls of the fishmongers. The other 

 is Alcyonium palmatum. It is found at low- water adhering 



