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KADI AT A, 



ALCTOXIU:! ELEGANS. 



CTDONIUM MULLERI. 



THE ALCYONIDiE. 



This family includes severa. genera, as Alcyonium, Lobularia, Cydonium, (fcc. In tlie genus 

 Alcyonium, the polypidora is of a spongy nature, and contains a multitude of minute calcareous 

 concretions, which serve to give firmness to the fabric. When the polypes are contracted, the 

 surface of the polypidom, which is covered -with a coriaceous skin, is seen to bear numerous 

 scattered stellate marks, which, on examination, are found to consist of eight rays corresponding 

 with the tentacula of the polypes which are to be protruded from these spots. The cells occupied 

 by the polypes are placed at the terminations of canals which run through the polypidom, and 

 which, by their union with each other, serve to maintain a communication between the individual 

 polypes constituting the mass. These groups are always attached to submarine bodies. The 

 Alcyonium digitatum, is a common European species; among the English it has the various names 

 of Cold's Paps, Dead 2fa7i''s Toes, Dead Man's Fingers, <fec. The French call it Main de Mer, 

 and the Germans Finyerkork. All these names are descriptive of its appearance. 



One of the most remarkable species belonging to this family is the A. 2)ocnlum, or Neptune's 



Cupy which is found upon the coral reefs in the East- 

 ern Archipelago. The polypidom of this zoophyte, 

 which bears some resemblance to a wine-glass in 

 form, is sometimes as much as three feet in height, 

 and eighteen inches in diameter at the mouth- 

 In the A. eleyans, the polypary consists of two 

 parts, the lower one being hard and of a solid 

 texture, and the upper one soft and flexible. 



THE GORGOXIDiE. 



In this family the substance of the polypidom 

 is collected into a solid central axis, covered by 

 the fleshy mass in which the polypes are imbed- 

 ded. The axis is sometimes calcareous, sometimes 

 horny ; in certain cases it is formed of a series of 

 joints united by homy rings. Many species grow 

 in a more or less arborescent form, of which the 

 Sea-Fans are an example. 

 Tliis family also includes the Corallium rubrum, the animal which produces the Common Red 



GORGONIA OB SEA-FAN. 



