118 POPULAR ILLUSTRATIONS OP 



separate existence, are intimately connected with, each other by the 

 sarcode, or fleshy substance called a coenosarc, which is seen between 

 them in the figure, and upon which they appear to be located. 

 There is another notable fact in the history of this Coral, which is 

 that it is always built up with its edges in the direction of the tides. 

 Were it otherwise if, in fact, the waves washed against it "broad- 

 side on," as sailors say its existence would be of very short duration. 

 And yet, as I have said before, the instinct of the polyp has nothing 

 to do with the secretion, the formation, and the mode of position of 

 its skeleton. All this is the result of a Design quite independent of 

 the creature itself. Several of these "Sea-Fans" have been found 

 on our British coasts, but the most beautiful specimens come from 

 the tropical seas. When the flesh dries it gives various colours to 

 the polypidom. I have one brought from Bermuda, by Monsignor 

 Virtue, which is of a beautiful purple colour. The arborescent form, 

 as seen in the plate, is in these horny Corals singularly exact ; the stem 

 and branches always bearing the same relative proportions as those 

 of a tree another adaptation of strength to resist the forces brought 

 against it in the sea. 



Fig. 154 (frontispiece) also belongs to the Gorgonidae. It is 

 called the Horsetail Coral, and has occasionally been taken on our 

 Scottish coasts. It is formed partly of calcareous matter in the 

 form of lenticular masses, as seen in the plate, which are joined to 

 each other by thin black horny segments, which give it a jointed 

 appearance, and the branches are thus enabled to wave about in any 

 position in which they are placed in the water. 



The name of Gorgons given to these horny Corals by Linnaeus 

 arose from the fancied resemblance of the polyp (Fig. 153, frontis- 

 piece) to the sea-deity, whose locks were said to have been changed 

 into serpents by that spiteful goddess Minerva. 



Another Alcyonarian polyp, and one which is placed by systema- 

 tisers before the Gorgonidse, is that beautiful and singular feather- 

 looking form seen at Fig. 1 64, frontispiece (Pennatula grisea, or 

 " Sea-Pen"). This graceful Coral consists of a stem resembling the 

 shaft of the feather, one end of which is more or less firmly fixed in 

 the ground, while after growing thick in the middle it terminates 

 in a thin, finely graduated point. Now, this shaft or axis is formed 

 more of phosphate than carbonate of lime, and is therefore allied to 

 bone in its consistence. It is movable at both ends, and is covered 

 with a coenosarc, which is prolonged on each side into branches, 

 having a general resemblance to the " barbs of a feather, and 

 upon these delicate offshoots the polyps are seen, placed in the 

 upper margin of each. These barbs are supported by a large number 

 of calcareous spiculae in their interior. 



