PLATE CIX. 



GoRGONfA Ceratophyta : subdichotoma, axillis divaricatis, 

 ramis virgatis bisulcatis, cortice rubro vel flavo, 

 poris bifariis. 



Gorgonia Ceratophyta : G7nel38G0, 6. 



GoRGONiA Ceratophyta : Horned Gorgonia. Soland. and 

 Ellis Coral, p.Si.n.Lt 12. f, 2. 3. 

 SehaMus. 3. t 10/. n. 3. 



Under the indiscriminate appellation of ^* sea- weeds and 

 shrubs/' the 'generality of mankind scarcely ever fail to confound 

 two classes of the marine productions, the Algss Fuci and Confervae 

 of the sea, which are strictly of the vegetable kind, and those extra- 

 ordinary aggregations of living animals the Gorgonise, and other 

 flexible Zoophytes that partake of the same analogies. 



It must be allowed, that if we regard only the general appear- 

 ance, there is nothing more rational than the conclusion, that beings 

 partaking of the same external form may be of the same kindred 

 kind. Many of the Zoophytes of the tribe adverted to, have the 

 appearance of shrubby vegetables, and their association in the same 

 element with the vegetables peculiar to that element, renders the 

 similitude still more striking ; that they are not, however, of the 

 same natural family or class is known to every naturalist, notwith- 

 standing this resemblance, and when the characters by which they 

 are defined be considered duly, it will be obvious to every one that 

 they are very distinct. 



