91 



Although ramified and dendroidal, like the madrepores, 

 the oculinae are distinguishable by their substance being 

 solid, smooth, hardly at all porous, and their stars not 

 numerous. 



1. Oc. virylnea. . , . Mad, virginea. Sol. and Ellis, Tab. xxxvi. 



2. hirtella Mad. hirtella, SoL and Ellis, Tab. xxxviL 



3. dijfusa, . . . American Sea. 



4. axillaris Sol. and Ellis, Tab. xiii. fig. 5. 



5. prolifera. . . . Sol. and Ellis, Tab. xxxii. fig. 2. 



6. echidnea. . . . Mad. rosea. Esp. 1. Tab. xv. 



7. infundibulifera. 



8. flabelliformis Seba Mus. 3. Tab. ex. fig. 10. 



9. rosea. . . . American Ocean. 



CORTICIFEROUS POLYPIFERS. 



Phytodial or dendroidal, composed of two sorts of dis- 

 tinct parts ; one a solid, central axis, and the other a fleshy 

 incrustment, which covers it, and contains the polypes. 



The axis is full, inorganic, either horny, or in part or en- 

 tirely stony. 



The polypiferous incrustment constitutes/ after its re- 

 moval from the water, a corticiform celluliferous envelope, 

 more or less friable. 



Corallium. A fixed polypifer, dendroidal, not articu- 

 lated, rigid and corticiferous. 



The axis caulescent, ramose, stony, solid, and striated 

 on the surface. 



The cortical part, whilst living, is soft, fleshy and polypi- 

 ferous ; after drying it is hardened and porous, with octo- 

 valved cells. 



The propriety of allotting to this substance a distinct 

 genus must be evident; it is not articulated, therefore is not 

 an !sis, with which Linnaeus had blended it; and its stony 

 axis will not permit its being placed among the Gorgonia, 

 as proposed by Solander. 



1. Cor. rubrum Isis nobilis, Lin. ; Gorgonia nobilis, Sol. and 



Ellis, Tab. xiii. 



