164 
ZGOPHYTA ASTEROID A. 
las also tells us that his Pennatula eynomorium differs from the 
Alcyonium only in this, that the former is a moveable, and the 
latter a fixed polypidom ; and he saw with equal clearness, the 
connection which exists between these genera and the shrub- 
like Gorgonia. Of the Pennatula mirabilis he had entertained 
doubts whether it was not rather a species of Gorgonia until 
he perceived that the stem was attenuated at each end and free ; 
and of the Sea-Pens generally, Ellis remarks, that they are <c a 
genus of zoophytes not far removed from the Gorgonias, on ac- 
count of their polype mouths, as well as having a bone in the 
inside, and flesh without.” On the other hand the Gorgonise, 
says Pallas, seem, with the exception of their horny skeleton, to 
be nearly similar in structure to the Alcyonia ; but as there are 
species of Gorgonia which are suberose internally and almost 
of a uniform medullary consistence, even this mark of distinction 
fails to separate the tribes, and we have little left to guide us in 
arranging these osculant species excepting their external habit, 
or, if we may so express ourselves, their physiognomy. Gorgonia 
Briareus has been described by some authors as an Alcyonium ; 
and Pallas would have enumerated the Gorgonia radicata in the 
same genus, had not its gorgon-like habit interfered. I am satis- 
fied that no zoophytologist can examine Ellis’s figure and de- 
scription of Gorgonia suberosa without being convinced that it 
pertains rather to the congenerous family, or holds at least very 
debateable ground between them. 
The names which the fishermen have conferred on the poly- 
pidoms of this order will convey to the student a better idea of 
their general appearances than any laboured description. The 
Pennatulse in their language are Sea-Pens ; the Yirgularise are 
Sea- Rushes ; Sea- Paps, Deadman’s hand or Dead-man’s toes, 
if not agreeable, are yet expressive names for the Alcyonia ; 
and the Gorgonise are Sea-shrubs when they branch away irre- 
gularly, but when the branches inosculate and form a sort of 
net, they become Sea-Fans, which some naturalist, of more than 
our usual fancy, has appropriated to the use of Venus — Fla- 
bellum Veneris.* 
* Ray has especially called attention to the fan-like growth of submarine bodies. 
— “That the motion of the water descends to a good depth, I prove from those 
plants that grow deepest in the sea, because they all generally grow flat in man- 
ner of a fan, and not with branches on all sides like trees ; which is so contriv- 
