§ 17. THE GORGONIA, OR SEA-FAN. 617 



tough horny consistence, having an external envelope or 

 rind, that entirely invests the former. The Gorgonia? pre- 

 sent great diversity of form and appearance. This specimen 

 from the West Indies (PL VI. jig. 2) is remarkable for its 

 richness of colour, being a bright yellow, spotted with red ; 

 this species, (PL VI. Jig. 3,) from the Mediterranean, has 

 its pendant branches very elegantly disposed, and is of a 

 purplish-lake colour ; in both these examples the axis is 

 black, and of the consistence of tough horn. Another 

 beautiful species from the Mediterranean, (the Gorgonia 

 patula of Ellis,) is of a bright red, and has the openings for 

 the polypes disposed in two rows ; a portion, highly mag- 

 nified, is here represented, (PL V. Jig. 3,) and exhibits 

 several polypes in different states of protrusion. 



These flexible Polyparia are attached to the rocks by an 

 extended base, whose surface is usually deprived of the 

 fleshy substance by which the other parts are invested. 

 The stem which springs from the base, although in a few 

 species simple, generally divides into branches, which are 

 exceedingly various in their size and distributions : — double, 

 single, anastomosed, pinnated, straight, and pensile : and 

 the stems are either compressed, flat, angular, or cylindrical ; 

 but in all these modifications the same structure prevails — 

 an axis, and an external crust or rind. The former is 

 either horny, elastic, flexible, brittle, or pithy, and of a dark 

 colour ; the latter a soft fleshy substance, studded with 

 pores, from which the polypes issue ; this rind becomes 

 earthy and friable when dried. In the Isis, which may be 

 described as a Gorgonia with a jointed stem, this structure 

 is well displayed, as in this branch of Isis kippuris (Lign. 

 136, Jig. 3, p. 620), in which a portion of the cortical 

 part is removed, and the axis exposed. In the water the 

 various species present the most vivid hues of red, green, 

 violet, and yellow. The Gorgonise inhabit deep water, and 

 are found in every sea ; but certain species appear to be 



