79. BEBRYCE. 51 



" Coral tree-like, fixed, with a solid central horny flexible axis, and 

 a spongy bark filled with calcareous particles. Polypes scattered, far 

 apart, and not retractile." Philippi. 



Bebryce, Philippi, Arch. Naturg. 1842, pp. 1, 35, 1. 1. f. 1 j Milne-Edw. 

 $ Haime, Corall. i. p. 187 j Kolliker, Ic. Hist. p. 137. 



M. Valenciennes believes it is the axis of a Gorgonia covered with 

 a colony of Sympodium coralloides. Professor Kolliker refers this 

 genus to the family Primnoacea (Ic. Hist. p. 137). 



158. Bebryce mollis. B.M. 



Bebryce moUis, Philippi, Wiegm. Arch. 1842, p. 33, 1. 1. f. 1 j Kolliker, 

 Ic. Hist. p. 137, 1. 18. f. 1, 2, 3. 



Hob. Mediterranean. 



Bark in the dry specimen formed of two layers of spicules, which 

 are very different from those in any other known coral. They are 

 scale-like, with a central contraction, with more or less toothed pro- 

 cesses, which project outwards from the middle of its length. The 

 large scales have smaller and the narrow scales stronger median pro- 

 minences, which are conical and branched at the tips (see Kolliker, 

 1. 17. f. 2, 3). The spicules of the polype are warty. 



