426 POLYPI. VAGINATI. 



projecting from the crust, which were retracted on the slightest agitation of the water. 



Lamarck divides the genus into three sections, of which M. Lamouroux makes as 



many genera. 



1. Dichotomous, with short joints, dilated and often compressed above. 



C. officinalis, Lin. Trichotomous, greenish coloured ; branches pin- 

 nated ; pinnulse distichous, cylindrico-clavate, the terminal ones 

 subcapitate ; joints of the stem and branches wedge-shaped, com- 

 pressed. - Inhabits European coasts. B. Ellis, Coral, pi. 24, 

 No. 2, fig. a, A. Plate S,jig. 4. 



C. squamata, Lam. Sub-trichotomous ; branches pinnated, apex di- 

 lated ; smaller branches narrow, slightly depressed ; joints of the 

 stem and branches wedge-shaped, compressed, the last ones flat, 

 with an acute margin. Inhabits English coasts. Ellis, Coral. 

 pi. 24, No. 4, fig. c, C. Plate 8,/g. 5. 



C. rosea, Lam. Much branched, purple rose coloured ; branches 

 subpinnated ; pinnulae in the form of ciliae ; joints of the branches 

 short and thick. Inhabits Southern Ocean. Lam. ii. 331. 



2. Capillary, subdichotomous, with cylindrical joints. 



C. rubens, Lin. Capillary, dichotomous, mossy in appearance; bran- 

 ches filiform, with cylindrical joints, the last subclavate, some- 

 times bilobed. Inhabits European coasts. Ellis, Coral, pi. 24, 

 No. 5, fig. e, E. Plate S,Jig. 6. 



C. cristata, Lin. Dichotomous, much branched, capillary; branches 

 in bundles, cymose and crested ; joints small, smooth. Inhabits 

 European Ocean. Ellis, Coral pi. 24, No. 7 %. f > F. 



3. Branched, dichotomous or verticillate, with elongated separated 

 joints, exposing the corneous axis. 



C. anceps, Lam. Dichotomous, much branched, lower joints round, 

 the upper elongated, two-edged, dilated above. Inhabits South- 

 ern seas Lam. ii. 333. 



C. cylindrica, Lam. Dichotomous, much branched, slender, white; 

 joints cylindrical, subequal ; ramuli furcated at the apex. Inha- 

 bits American seas. Ellis, Zooph. pi. 22, fig. 4. 



Gen. 8. GORGONIA, Lin. 



Polypiferous mass fixed and branching, composed of a central 

 axis and an outer bark ; axis fixed at the base, caulescent, 

 branched, substriated without, solid, horny and flexible ; fleshy 

 crust covering the axis and its branches, and containing poly- 

 pi in its fresh state ; spongy, porous, and friable when dried, 

 and covered with superficial or projecting cells. 



The species of Gorgoniae are numerous ; but their distinctive characters have not 

 been well determined. 



1. Cells superficial, in the form of projecting granulations or tuber- 

 cular. 



G. flabellum, Lin. Much branched, fan-shaped, reticulated, the 

 ramuli thick, subcompressed, caulescent ; osculi small, scattered. 



