INTRODUCTION. ixxix 



17. Genus Distichopora ? 



Lamarck, loc. cit., p. 197. 



This singular zoophyte appears to have more affinity to Alcyonium than to any other 

 form of polypi ; but the place belonging to it in a natural system of classification is as 

 yet very uncertain. It is characterised by a calcareous, dendroid corallum, composed of 

 long tubular cells, that present no traces of septa or tubulae, and are disposed in a 

 flabellate manner, so as to constitute a vertical plane, the two sides of which are 

 covered with a thick and compact ccenenchyma, and the edge assumes the appearance of 

 a calicular groove, limited laterally by two rows of circular pores. Nothing is known 

 concerning the structure of the soft parts. 



Typ. sp., Distichopora violacea, Lamarck, op. cit., p. 305. (For the structure ot the Corallum, see 

 Milne Edwards, Atlas du Regne Animal de Cuvier, Zooph., tab. lxxxv, fig. 4.) 



Family II. 

 GORGONID^E. 



Polypiers corticiferes, Lamarck, Hist, des Anim. sans Verteb. vol. ii, p. 288, 1816 ; Polypes corticaux, 

 Cuvier, Regne Animal, vol. iv, p. 78, 1817; Corallia, Blainville, Manuel d'Actinologie, p. 501, 1834; 

 Cerato-corallia, Ehrenberg, Corall. des Roth. Meeres, 1834 ; Coralliadce, Gray, Synop. Brit. Mus. p. 134 ; 

 Gorgoniadoe, Johnston, British Zooph., p. 182, 1838; Gorgonidce, Dana, Exploring Expedition, Zooph., 

 p. 637, 1846 ; GorgoniadcE, Gray, List of British Anim. of the British Museum, p. 55, 1848. 



Polypi provided with a thick, suberous ccenenchyma, surrounding a central stein that 

 is adherent to an extraneous body by its basis, and is formed of epidermic sclerenchyma. 



First Tribe— GORGONINiE. 



Gorgonia, Pallas, Elenclius Zoophytorum, \. 160, 1766; Cuvier, Regne Animal, 1st ed., vol. iv, p. SO; 

 Lamarck, Hist, des Anim. sans Verteb., vol. ii, p. 309 ; Gorgonince, Dana, Exploring Expedition, Zooph., 

 p. 641, 1846. 



Common axis inarticulate, horny or fasciculate, but not calcareous. 



] . Genus Gorgonia. 



Pallas, loc. cit., (in parte.) 



Axis corneous. Calices disposed irregularly round the ramified cylinders formed by 

 the ccenenchyma, and not encircled by imbricated squammse. Polypi retractile. 



Typ. sp., Gorgonia tuberculata, Esper. Pflanz., Gorg., tab. xxxvii. 



