PLATE CXIV. 



one or two feet in height, and includes several distinct varieties, of 

 which the purple kind is the most frequent. The particular kind 

 shown in our present plate is the variety of a yellow colour* Those 

 Gorgoni^e flourish in great profusion affixed to the rocks and stones 

 at the bottom of the water, where they form extensive sub-marine 

 groves or shrubberies in the sea, and from their lively contrast of 

 colours, present a very gay appearance, when they appear in view as 

 the tide retires. The figure in the annexed plate is seen without 

 any of the animal flowers, the appearance the species assumes as 

 before observed while the Polypes remain quiescent in their cells. 

 When exerted in search of prey, the stems assume the flowery aspect 

 represented in one of the lower twigs. The animals in this species 

 are small, but appear to peculiar advantage when deeply magnified, 

 as may be conceived from the enlarged figures shewn at the bottom 

 of the plate. One of these figures represents an animal of this 

 form, protruded in a bud-like form, from the opening of its cell, 

 another has the arms extended in the attitude of waiting to seize its 

 prey, assuming at such times precisely the character of an octo- ' 

 petalous flower, and a third has the blossom partly retracted, its 

 petals closing, and the animal preparing to retire into its cell. 



