61 



rally, not fery numerous, do not divide low down, but arise 

 from the sides and edges of the larger lobes : are always 

 stont, somewhat compressed, and more closely resembling the 

 teat of a cow than the human finger. In the present case, 

 the lobes are very numerous, and divide nearly as low down 

 as the base; they are elongated, cylindrical, and very nearly 

 resemble the little finger, both in shape and size. As the 

 specimen was very nearly dead when I first saw it, the polypes 

 can of course be but very imperfectly described. They 

 seemed very similar in shape to those of the Al. digitatum, 

 but were smaller and semi-opaque ; the tentacula were eight, 

 fringed, and of a pinkish tinge, with a red band beneath, 

 encircling them: the various orifices could not be ob- 

 served. The spicuia are numerous and irregularly arranged ; 

 they are linear-elongate, pointed at both extremities, with 

 uneven, or granular spaces between; sometimes they are 

 simple and at others united into K-shaped bodies, and occa- 

 sionally wanting one or other of its members forming an 

 imperfect K. 



That this is not a variety of the Alcyonium digitatum, 

 seems almost certain. Having had opportunities of examin- 

 ing that species in many thousand instances, from all parts 

 of the Cornish coast, from near the shore to mid channel, 

 and in all stages of growth, I may therefore be supposed 

 to be familiar with it, yet on my own mind there is no doubt 

 of its being distinct ; and such also is the opinion of others 

 who have examined it. 



ORDER III. 



HELIANTHOIDA. 



This order contains the largest and most brilliant species to 

 be found on our coast, and is therefore the most likely to 

 attract the attention of casual observers. All naturalists who 

 have written on them, describe them in such glowing terms 

 as seem more fitted for the vegetable than the animal king- 

 dom ; yet when many of them are examined, such descrip- 

 tions may be said, rather to have fallen short of, than to have 

 exaggerated their beauties. Their interest to the naturalist, 

 however, is founded on other and more important grounds ; 

 in them he recognizes the British representatives of most of 

 those wonder working animals of the South Seas, by which 

 the coral reefs and islands of that region are reared, and by 

 which perhaps, continents may eventually be formed. It is 

 true our shores cannot boast of such magnificent specimens 

 as are brought to this country by our navigators and mer- 

 chants, and that the only calcareous species we have is a 



H 



