the sea-plume, Gorgonia acerosa, the 

 coral stock does not form a lattice work, 

 but a few long and straight branches sup- 

 port a countless number of small fronds 

 which extend from each of the main 

 stems at regular intervals. To fully ap- 

 preciate and understand these animal 

 colonies one must imagine this fan or 

 plume to be covered with polyps, each 

 with its little expanded tentacles. Add 

 to this the colors, yellow, white, brown, 

 red, crimson, purple, orange or black and 

 the picture of these exquisite creatures 

 is complete. A species from California, 

 the Eugorgia aurantiaca, is bright orange 

 red in color and its branches are rather 

 stiff. In the family Plexauridas the 

 branches are very thick and heavy, re- 

 sembling in some respects a sponge, and 

 the polyps are placed very close together. 

 The genus Eunicea is the most common 

 and best known member of this family. 

 The most valuable Alcyonoid coral is the 



red or precious coral (Corallium ru- 

 brum). It is the only member of this 

 subclass which has a coral stock or axis 

 hard enough to polish. This property 

 has led it to- be much used for jewelry 

 and for a number of years it has been 

 collected for this purpose. The polished 

 article is quite unlike the coral as it is 

 taken from the water. Instead of being' 

 smooth and polished it is roughened by 

 many little ribs running longitudinally, 

 giving the coral a fluted aspect. The 

 family Antipathidse, although not classed 

 as Alcyonaria by many zoologists, con- 

 tains some interesting forms. The coral 

 stocks are called sea-whips and are very 

 long, flexible and of a black color. The 

 overseers of the Spanish plantations for- 

 merly used these sea-whips to punish 

 their slaves, and when twisted or braided 

 together and knotted they must have 

 been veritable instruments of torture. 

 Frank Collins Baker. 



THE LILAC BUSH. 



Though stripped and lashed by the unmannered gale 

 Beneath the portent of an hostile sky, ' 



How many times, from sheltered window nook 

 My lilac bush, I've watched your strength defy 



The onslaughts of wild Winter's fierce allies, 

 Rising at once from every buffeting, 

 To spread your slender arms in wide disdain, 

 Of this dark season ere the robins sing! 



Firm is your roothold in the frozen ground — . 

 Then be dead leaf and empty nest forgot ! 

 In your long dream the sky is changless blue. 

 The menace of the storm concerns you not. 



I envy you ! O' that my listless soul 

 Would store its Summer largess thus, until 

 Strengthened in calm, life's bleaker intervals. 

 Were weathered by unconquerable will ! 



Lulu Whedon Mitch ele- 



85 



