GORGON IN &. 



223 



numerous branches. It is arborescent when the branches and their 



accompaniments take different directions so as to constitute tufts. 



It is panicled when they arrange themselves on both sides of the stem 



or principal branches, after the manner of the barbs of a feather. It 



is flabelliform when the branches rise irregularly under the same 



plane; reticulated, when branches are so 



disposed as to be attached to each other 



by net-work in place of remaining free. 

 The Gorgonince are found in every sea, 



and always at considerable depths. They 



are larger and more numerous between 



the tropics than in cold or even tem- 

 perate climates. Some of them scarcely 



attain the twelfth of an inch in height, 



while others rise to the height of several 



feet. 



Formed in the bosom of the ocean, it 



is only necessary to behold these singular 



creations in order to admire the brilliant 



colours which decorate their semi-mem- 



branaceous branches. The brilliancy of 



their colours is singularly diminished, has 



almost entirely disappeared indeed, when 



they make their appearance in the cases 

 of our natural history collections. 



The Fan Gorgon (Gorgonia flabellum\ 

 from the Antilles (Fig. 78), is a species 

 which often attains the height of eighteen 

 or twenty inches, and nearly as much in 

 breadth. 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. 79 we have a small portion of the Sea Fan magnified to twice its 

 natural size, showing the curious details of its organisation. 



The Whorl ed Gorgon (G. verticeilatd), which is found in the 

 Mediterranean, is yellowish in colour, and also of elegant form. This 

 species is represented in Fig. 80 ; while Fig. 8 1 represents a small 

 branch magnified 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 ; but they are deeply interesting as objects of study to the 

 zoologist, 



Fig. 81. 



Gorgonia verticellata (Pallas), 

 magnified four times. 



