182 ZOOLOGY SECT. 



always possess an ectodermal calcareous skeleton. This order 

 includes the vast majority of Stony Corals (Figs. 133 and 143). 



ORDER 3. ANTIPATHARIA. 



Compound, tree-like Zoantharia in which the tentacles and 

 mesenteries are comparatively few (6 24) in number. A skeleton 

 is present in the form of a branched chitinoid axis, developed from 

 the ectoderm, which extends throughout the colony. This order 

 includes the " Black Corals" (Fig. 137). 



Sub-Class II, Alcyonaria. 



Actinozoa in which the tentacles and mesenteries are always 

 eight in number. The tentacles are pinnate, i.e. produced into 

 symmetrical branchlets. There is never more than one siphono- 

 glyphe, which is ventral in position, i.e. faces the proximal end of 

 the colony. The mesenteries are not arranged in couples, and 

 their longitudinal muscles are all directed ventrally, i.e. towards the 

 same side as the siphonoglyphe. 



ORDER 4. ALCYONACEA. 



Alcyonaria in which the skeleton usually consists of calcareous 

 spicules or small irregular bodies, found in the mesogloea, but 

 probably originating from wandering ectoderm cells. The common 

 " Dead men's fingers " (Alcyonium, Fig. 140) has a skeleton of this 

 type. In some cases the spicules become aggregated so as to pro- 

 duce a coherent skeleton, which may form a branched axis to the 

 whole colony, as in the precious Red Coral (Corallium, Fig. 132), 

 or a series of connected tubes for the individual polypes, as in 

 the Organ-pipe Coral (TuHpora, Fig. 135). In the " Blue Coral " 

 (Heliopora) the skeleton is a massive ectodermal structure resem- 

 bling that of the Madreporaria. Most genera are compound ; a 

 few, such as Hartea (Fig. 131), are simple. 



ORDER 5. GORGONACEA. 



Compound tree-like Alcyonaria, with a calcareous or horny 

 skeleton of ectodermal origin forming a branched axis throughout 

 the colony. Spicules are present in the mesogloea, There is no 

 siphonoglyphe. The beautiful " Sea-fans " belong to this group 

 (Fig. 141). 



ORDER 6. PENNATULACEA. 



Alcyonaria in which the colony is usually elongated, and has 

 one end embedded in the mud at the sea-bottom, while the 

 opposite or distal end bears the polypes, usually on lateral 



