G O R G O N I A. 83 



tisi ojfe ancipiti corneo ni~ which ftand erect, and are de- 

 gricante. fended by ftony fpiculas, or 



fpines. The bony part is flat- 

 tifh, with two edges, of a 

 horny nature and blackifh co- 

 lor. 



This is very common all about the American iflands in 

 the Weft Indies. The polypes have eight claws, and are 

 protected by thefe fpines. This is one of Mr. Greg's col- 

 lection ; and upon differing it, I firft difcovered the 

 fpawn, which confifts of round white eggs, like thofe de- 

 fcribed in the Alcyonium digitatum, or Dead Man's Toes, 

 and when it is fent forth, it paffes through the polypes as 

 it does in the Alcyonium. 



7. Gorgonia verticillaris. Sardinian White Gorgon. 



Gorgonia teres pinnata This Gorgon has round pin- 



ramofa y ramulis alternis nated branches ; the little fide 

 parallelis^ofculis verticilla- branches are alternate and pa- 

 tis incurvatisy came f qua- rallel, with mouths bending 

 mulis albidis vitreis ob- inwards, and placed in whirls 

 tecldy ojfeelaminis fubtefta- about the ftem and branches. 

 ceis nitidis compofto. The flefh is covered with lit- 



tle white glahy fcales, and the 

 bone is compofed of layers of 

 a fhining pearl-colored fhelly 

 fubfcance. 



Sea-Feather. Ellis Corallin. pag. 6©. tab. 26. fig. 



.0* 1 . V . 



Gorgonia verticillaris, Linn. Syft. Nat. Ed. 12, p. 12890 



M 2 This 



