148 THREE CRUISES OF THE “BLAKE.” 
motion gradually with their development, and finally when adult 
remain fixed, although they certainly move freely about when 
young, like other shallow-water actinie. 
Epizoanthus belongs to a group of actini usually forming 
irregularly shaped incrusting masses and incapable of locomo- 
tion. The polyps have a thick leathery column of a bluish or 
grayish-brown color. Two species are quite common along the 
east coast of the United States, in depths varying from 75 to 
600 fathoms. (See Fig. 235.) 
CORALS.! 
A series of fine specimens of Caryophyllia communis (Fig. 
462) well shows their mode of growth. The young is erect, 
with a thin peduncle attached to a small pebble or shell; as it 
Fig. 462. Fig. 462 a. 
Caryophyllia communis. 4,  (Pourtalós.) 
grows in height, the support not being sufficient, it falls over 
on its broadest side, and, growing upward to keep the calyele 
above the mud, the curved base is produced. (Fig. 462 a.) 
Stenocyathus vermiformis is a very elongate coral resembling 
an annelid tube. Specimens fre- 
"c quently occur having a living and 
à; growing polyp at either end. (Fig. 
N 463.) These specimens are gener- 
Fig. 463. — Stenocyathus vermifor- ally somewhat curved, as if they had 
SA T Te been lying in the mud with both 
ends turned up and projecting. 
1 The account of the corals here given is taken from the various reports of 
Pourtalès on the “Blake ” collec'ions. 
