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CLASS II.— ORDER I. 
There are no Polypidoms in existence which bear 
so strong a resemblance to certain lichens, as the Lia- 
goras, whether in their form, their appearance, or 
their colour; indeed the similarity is so striking 
that previous to the result of recent observations 
which have fixed their rank among animal existence, 
our most learned botanists classed them with the 
Fuci. 
The Liagoras differ from the Sertularias, in the total 
absence of any cells ; from the Corallinas, in their want 
of articulations ; and from the genus Tubularia, in the 
flaccidity and opacity of the sides of their almost fis- 
tular branches ; but they belong to our present order 
from the situation of the Polypi, which are placed at 
the summit of their branches and divisions. 
Their substance is membranous, sometimes slightly 
covered with a cretaceous coating, which is either uni- 
ted in a crust, or friable. The surface has frequently 
the appearance of being wrinkled, from the drying of 
the Polypi contained in the interior of the branch. 
In the living state, this surface is even, and sur- 
rounded by a gelatinous matter, doubtless of an animal 
nature, which becomes earthy by desiccation. 
The Liagoras in their colour present the most deli- 
cate of tints, blending most pleasingly together : some 
of them are white ; some inclining to red, others yel- 
low, or green, and sometimes violet ; one individual 
has sometimes been found to possess all these hues ; 
but they are very fugitive. 
The Liagoras are not rare in the equatorial or 
temperate regions, particularly in the Mediterranean ; 
