1865. ] DR. J. E. GRAY ON RHODOPHYTON. 705 
characters to the corresponding bones in the skeleton of the common 
Fin-Whale, now in the Alexandra Park ; only they were 23 inches 
shorter: their length was 16 inches. Rather behind their middle is 
a short strong angular projection ; the posterior or shorter ramus is 
subcylindrical and truncated ; the anterior or longer ramus is thin 
and flattened. 
The other bones, as far as I could see them, confirmed the dia- 
gnosis of the species made from the external characters. There were 
15 pairs of ribs, the last rib well-developed and attached to the trans- 
verse process of the corresponding vertebra; the first had no capi- 
tular process, but resembled that at the Rosherville Gardens, figured 
by Dr. Murie in these ‘ Proceedings’ (1865, p- 224). 
The lumbar vertebre were fourteen in number. The tail is not yet 
sufficiently cleaned to count its bones. The sternum was more 
regularly cross-like than in any other Physalus I have seen, but still 
maintained its usual character of being broader than long, the 
dimensions being 23 and 22 inches respectively. The ends of the 
first ribs were articulated to its hinder ramus—their anterior borders 
being in close contact, and connected by strong fibrous tissue with 
the posterior margins of the projecting lateral arms of the sternum. 
Although the animal appeared to be adult, a large portion of the 
posterior end of the upper border of the scapula, as much as a foot 
in depth, consisted only of cartilage. 
One other observation may be worth recording, which is, that in 
taking off the skin from the bones of the forearm, on the inner sur- 
face, in the interval between the radius and ulna, were seen some 
well-developed muscles (the red fibres of which reached nearly to 
the lower end of these bones) ending in strong tendons, passing to, 
and radiating out on, the palmar surface of the hand. Circumstances 
prevented me from following out the details of their arrangement and 
distribution ; but as in the Porpoise and those few other Cetaceans 
of which the limbs have been dissected no muscles are found below 
the elbow, and as they can, apparently, have little or no function, 
their presence is of considerable interest, and this notice may direct 
attention to their fuller investigation on some future occasion. 
12. Notice on Ruopornyton, a New Genus oF ALCYONIADZ, 
FOUND ON THE Coast oF CORNWALL. By Dr. J. E. Gray, 
F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., F.L.S., erc. 
My friend Mr. Couch, of Polperro, has kindly sent to me for 
inspection a drawing which he has made of a fleshy Coral that Mr. 
W. Langham dredged on the coast of Cornwall, stating that he 
believed it differed from any described in Dr. Johnston’s work, and 
thought it might be Aleyonium exos of Gmelin (the Alcyonium pal- 
matum of Pallas), which it certainly is not. He has since sent the 
specimen to me for the British-Museum collection ; and I have com- 
pared it with all the species that I know, and with the descriptions 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1865, No. XLVI. 
