OCCULINA VIBGINEA. 201 



A kindred species, the occulinat is remarkable 

 for the excessive subdivision of its branches, as 

 well as for their arrangement. The polypi are 

 found both on the surface of the stems, and at their 

 extremities, and every one of them gives birth* to 

 a new branch — the whole constituting a very ele- 

 gant treelike formation. The type of the species 

 is the Occulina virginea, sometimes called white 

 coral. It is common in the Mediterranean, and is 

 also found in the neighbourhood of the equator. 



No such symmetry as we have observed in the 

 coralline polypiers is to be found in the meandrina, 

 or brain coral, of which there are some fine speci- 

 mens in the British Museum. The polyps of this 

 species have no tentacles around their mouths, but 

 short lateral ones. They are huddled together in 

 the shallow sinuosities which furrow the surface of 

 the polypier ; but sometimes they disappear alto- 

 gether, as in a species found in the lied Sea. All 

 that can be discovered in the furiows is a row of 

 mouths. The sinuosities vary according to the 

 species. Their numerous folds wind among one 

 Hnother like a maze, reminding one of the famous 

 Cretan labyrinth ; hence the name given to this 

 species {meandrina^ meandering). They are generally 

 globular, or nearly so, in form, and are found of 

 various sizes on isolated rocks. They are abundant 



