350 Mr. Hatchett's Experiments on Zoophytes, 



By continuing the red heat, a very small portion of white 

 matter was obtained, which, as far as the quantity would allow, 

 was proved to be muriate of soda, with some carbonate of the 

 same. 



The last species of Gorgonia which I shall here mention, is 

 one which so much resembles the Gorgonia Antipathes as not 

 easily to be distinguished from it, and, like the preceding, has 

 probably been confounded with it ; but, upon closely comparing 

 them, the Gorgonia now treated of is found to be more flat in 

 the stem, on the thin sides or edges of which, a number of short 

 spines or protuberances are placed very near each other. That 

 it is very different from the Gorgonia Antipathes, will be proved 

 by the subsequent experiments. 



Some pieces of this Gorgonia were exposed to the action of 

 dilute nitric acid for nearly four weeks. 



The structure then became very apparent, and consisted of 

 strong fibres, which were placed nearly in a parallel direction, 

 from one extremity of the branch to the other, and, being 

 closely arranged side by side, formed concentric coats of a pale 

 brown opaque substance ; but these coats were by no means so 

 distinct as those observed in the Gorgonia formerly mentioned, 

 although, like them, the fibrous substance possessed the cha- 

 racters of membrane. 



The dilute acid in which these pieces had been steeped, was 

 become pale yellow, which changed to orange colour when 

 ammoniac was added ; at the same time, so large a quantity of 

 phosphate of lime was precipitated, that the liquor became thick 

 and viscid. 



The phosphate was separated by a filter; and lixivium of 

 potash was added to the clear liquor, without producing any effect. 



