346 Mr. Hatchett's Experiments on Zoophytes, 



and proved to be of a similar composition with those already 

 mentioned. 



' Gorgonia pectin ata. 



The cortical part of this Gorgonia effervesced with dilute 

 nitric acid, and left a soft yellowish white membrane. 



Ammoniac precipitated a small quantity of phosphate of lime; 

 after which, a copious precipitate of carbonate of lime was 

 obtained by potash. 



The stem, in its habits, resembled those which have been 

 described. 



Gorgonia setosa. 



An effervescence was produced upon the immersion of this 

 Gorgonia in dilute nitric acid; and, after some hours, the cortical 

 part appeared like a thin yellowish membrane, which coated the 

 horny stem. 



The acid solution, upon the addition of ammoniac, yielded a 

 slight precipitate of phosphate of lime ; and a large quantity of 

 carbonate of lime was afterwards obtained by potash. 



When the cortex was separately steeped in the acid, and the 

 solution examined in the way so often mentioned, only car- 

 bonate of lime was obtained.* 



On the contrary, the stem (whether recent or burned) af- 

 forded a small portion of phosphate of lime, but scarcely any 

 trace of carbonate. The stem which had been long steeped in 

 the acid, became soft and transparent, like a cartilaginous or 

 tendinous substance. 



* When the cortical part had been long digested in boiling distilled water, a 

 brownish solution was formed, which was but little affected by infusion of oak bark ; 

 but nitre-muriate of tin produced a precipitate. 



