G O R G O N I A, 85: 



and have the appearance of fome fpecies of Barnacles ; 

 they are covered with white fcales of different fizes, placed 

 one over the other. The opening of each mouth is fur- 

 rounded by eight little pointed valves or fcales, which 

 clofe together in the dried fpecimens. If we compare the 

 fcales of the Coluber Ceraftes (of which there is a moft 

 elegant figure in the Philofophical Tranfa&ions, Vol, 56. 

 tab. 14.) we mall obferve fomething fimilar in the fcales 

 on the mouth of that animal, to thofe on this Gorgonia. r 

 but varying in fhape according to the form of their 

 mouths : we may likewife fee what a variety of fhapes 

 the fcales are of on the reft of the body of this viper, to 

 fuit the various turnings and twiftings of this aclive ani- 

 mal : in this Gorgonia, which is a fixt animal, the fcales 

 on the ftem and branches, which do not move, are much 

 of one form, differing greatly from thofe on the heads, 

 which are always in motion, while the animal is alive 

 and catching its food. 



9. Gorgonia pe&inata. The Comb-like Gorgon. 



Gorgonia teres, ramu^ This Gorgon is round ; its 



lis fecundh paralleiis afcen- fmall branches come out pa- 

 dentibus, carne rubra, of- rallel, and only on one fide, 

 cutis creberrimis rotundis and grow erecl. The flefli 

 prominulis, ojfe duro albo is reddifh ; the mouths are 

 fragilh round, numerous, and pro- 



ject a little. The bone is 

 white, within, hard and brittle. 



Seb. muf. 3. tab. 105. fig. r. a. 



Gorgonia pe&in-at a. Linn. Syft. Nat. Ed, 12. pag. 1292. 



This 



