124 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



indeed, when they make their appearance in the cases of our natural 



history collections. 



The Fan Gorgon, from the Antilles (Fig. 42), is a species which 

 often attains the height of eighteen or twenty 

 inches, and nearly as much in hreadth. The 

 network of its interstices with its unequal 

 and serried meshes, resembling fine lace, 

 have led to its designation of Sea Fan. Its 

 colour is yellow or reddish. In Fig. 43 we 

 have the Sea Fan magnified to twice its 

 natural size, showing the curious details of 

 its organization. 



The Whorled Gorgon (G. verticellatd), 

 which is found in the Mediterranean, is 

 yellowish in colour, and also of elegant form. 

 It is sometimes called the Sea Pen. This 

 species is represented in Fig. 44, while 

 Fig. 45 represents a small branch magni- 

 fied four times, in order to give an exact 

 idea of its form. 



The Gorgons are not known to be useful 

 either in the arts or in medicine. They 



are ornamental in cabinets, and interesting both as objects of study 



and of zoological curiosity. 



Fig. 45. Gorgonia verticellata 

 (Pallas), magnified four times. 



ISIDIANS. 



The Isidce constitute an intermediate group between the Gorgons 

 and Corallines. Their polypidorn is arborescent, but its axis is formed 

 of articulations alternately calcareous and horny. The principal genus 

 is that of the Isis, which is met with in the Indian Ocean, on the 

 American coast, and in Oceania. The inhabitants of the Molucca 

 Islands use these animals medicinally as a remedy in certain diseases ; 

 but as .they use them for the most opposite maladies, it may be 

 doubted if they are really efficacious in any medicinal point of view. 



The Isis corollo'idis of Oceania has a coral with numerous 

 slender branches, furnished with cylindrical knots at intervals, con- 

 tracted towards the middle, finely striated, and rose-coloured. Isis 



