LOBULARIA. POLYPI. 421 



ORDER II. POLYPI TUBIFERI. 



Polypi united in a common fleshy body, either simple, lobed, 

 or ramified, and constantly fixed by its base ; no solid inter- 

 nal axis ; surface entirely or in part covered with tubiform cy- 

 linders, rarely retractile ; mouth terminal, with eight pecti- 

 nated tentacula. 



The Polypi of this order appear in the form of a fleshy subgelatinous body, always 

 fixed by its base, more or less simple, convex, lobed, or slightly ramified. The sur- 

 face of the body, or at least the upper part, is covered with a vast number of small 

 tubiform moveable cylinders, pierced at their summit by a round sub-octagonal 

 mouth surrounded by eight large pectinated tentacula. Each individual is composed 

 of many viscera enclosed in a cylindrical tube formed of two coats, between which 

 cellular substance is interposed. After covering the particular animal these coats join 

 in enveloping the common mass. The interior is fleshy, and appears sometimes to 

 be furnished with longitudinal and annular fibres. The interior tunic of each ani- 

 mal has eight large longitudinal and converging folds, which divide the cavity in- 

 to as many parts. The mouth communicates by a short and broad oesophagus with 

 the stomach. The polypi are also furnished with eight intestinal processes, six of 

 which seem connected with an equal number of ovaries. 



Gen. 1. LOBULARIA, Lam. Alcyonium^ Lin. 

 Common bodyfleshy , elevated upon the base, rarely supported by 

 a short stem, simple, or furnished with lobes ; surface thick- 

 ly furnished with polypi ; polypi entirely retractile, cylindri- 

 cal, with eight grooves without, and eight pectinated tenta- 

 cula. 



L. digitata, Lam. Sessile, ferruginous white, gelatinous, fleshy, lob- 

 ed ; the lobes from two to live, thick and obtuse. Inhabits Eu- 

 ropean coasts Ellis, Coral, pi. 32, fig. a, A, A 2. 



Gen. 2. CLIONA, Grant. * 



Substance fleshy, irritable, with siliceous spicula ; imbedded in 

 cavities of shells, and protruding tubular contractile papillae, 

 on the margin of which are placed cylindrical polypi with eight 

 tentacula. 



C. celata, Grant. Flesh yellow, spicula cylindrical, tubular, closed, 

 slightly curved, pointed at one end, and terminated by a small 

 hollow round head at the other. Inhabits old oyster shells. 

 Fleming, Brit. Animals, 516. 



Gen, 3. AMMOTHEA, Lam. 



Common body divided into many short and branched stems, with 

 the last branches clustered, oval-conoid, and covered with po- 

 lypi ; polypi not retractile ; body short, and with eight pecti- 

 nated tentacula on the sides. 



A. virescens, Savig. Stem white, very much branched ; polypi fus- 

 cous greenish. Inhabits coasts of the Red Sea. Lam. ii. 411. 



Gen. 4. XENIA, Lam. 

 Common body with thick shortish naked stems arising from the 



