60 



surrounding water; this subject is considered more fully in 

 the introductory notes to the order.* 



The figure of Alcyonium Lobatum of Lamouroux apparently 

 belongs to this species ; but it is so faintly executed, that it 

 is uncertain whether it belongs to this or another; I believe 

 it belongs to this, though not very characteristic ; a character 

 which may be applied to many other of his figures. The 

 figure of the Cydonium Mulleri in Jones' " Outlines of the 

 Animal Kingdom," p. 27, fig. 5, also probably belongs to 

 this, though I quoted it in the paper in the Polytechnic 

 Report as the true Cydonium. Johnston's figure is good 

 and characteristic of the expanded state. The tentacula of 

 the polypes are liable to such a variety of appearances, de- 

 pending on their partial or complete expansion, that we ought 

 not to decide on specific differences hastily on such grounds. 

 The differences between the different polypes figured by Ellis 

 are great, and they differ from those of Lamouroux which 

 correspond to the polypes of this species, and from Johnston's 

 which most closely resemble those that I have observed. 



ALCYONIUM SANGUINEUM. Encrusting, fleshy, and 

 deeply lobulated ; lobules elongated cylindrical, and ex- 

 tending nearly as low as the base; of a deep blood red 

 colour. Polype-cells depressed, yellow, small, with eight 

 rays, numerous. Skin coriaceous. PI. 13, fig. 2. 



Of this species I have procured otdy a single specimen and 

 that, not far from land ; in general appearance it resembles 

 the last species the Alcyonium digitatum, but differs from it 

 in several important particulars. Its surface is rather rough, 

 coriaceous, and occupied by numerous spicula. The star- 

 shaped depressions, which are numerous, are slightly de- 

 pressed, yellow and marked with eight rays. The cells, 

 which are imbedded, are inversely conical and terminate 

 inferiorly in long canals, which pass irregularly through the 

 fleshy pol}' pe-mass, and opening into each other in all direc- 

 tions give the substance the appearance of irregular net 

 work, the meshes of which are filled up with minute tubes, 

 a gelatinous substance and spicula. Thus the internal ana- 

 tomy resembles that of the AL digitatum, but is smaller and 

 more delicate. The colour externally is of a deep blood 

 colour and internally is but slightly lighter. The lobes differ 

 very considerably from those of the AL digitatum; but as a 

 specimen of that species was procured from the same locality 

 and at the same time a comparison may be instituted between 

 them. The protuberances, in the AL digitatum, are, gene- 



* Page 53. 



