2 AX1FEEA. 



Gorgoninse, Milne-Eihv. fyHaimc, Corall.i. p. 134; Ko'llikcr, Ic. Hist. 

 p. 135. 



" The polypes are short, cylindrical, connected laterally by a porous 

 coenenchyma at their bases, by a common membrane, and by spe- 

 cialized longitudinal canals, and arranged around a firm central axis, 

 which is secreted from the common basal membrane. The commu- 

 nities are attached to foreign bodies by the expanded base of the 

 central axis." Verrill, Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 1862, i. 



Synopsis of Suborders. 



I. Lithophyta. The axis calcareous, continuous or separated 



transversely into joints. 



II. Ceratophyta. The axis horny, continuous. 



III. Solenophyta. The axis expanded, coriaceous, foliaceous, 

 folding into a more or less perfect tube, with tubular branch- 

 lets. 



IV. Suberophyta. The axis soft, cork-like, with interspersed 

 spicules, sometimes so numerous as almost to form the entire 

 axis. 



Suborder I. LITHOPHYTA or LITHOPHYTES. 



Coral aborescent. Axis calcareous, continuous or jointed, 

 effervescing with muriatic acid. 



Lithophyta (Lithophytes), Gray, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 282. 



The axis is generally entirely stony and hard, and usually 

 of a white colour ; but in Corallium it is generally deep bright 

 red, but sometimes pink or white. It is usually solid, and 

 formed of concentric laminae. In Melithcea it is cavernous, 

 pierced with cylindrical tortuous canals. 



Synopsis of Families. 

 I. Axis jointed, calcareous; articulations spongy, swollen. 



1. MELITH^ADJE. Joints and articulations with tubular canals. 



2. MOPSELLAD^;. Joints solid, reddish, articulations red, spongy ; 



branches from the spongy articulations. 



3. TRINELLAI^E. Joints solid, white, articulations spongy ; branches 



from the solid joints. 



II. Axis jointed, calcareous ; articulations narrow, horny, or 

 cork-like. 



4. MOPSEAD^E. Branches from the cartilaginous articulations. Bark 



thick ; cells conical. 



5. ACANELLAD^:. Branches from the cartilaginous articulations. 



Bark and cells spinous. 



