184 
Z. ASTEROIDA. 
Gorgonia. 
“ This Sea-Fan is of a reddish brown colour 44 has its branches 
disposed in a dichotomous order and a flattish form ; they bend irre- 
gularly towards one another, but rarely unite. Their mouths are co- 
nical, project, and are surrounded at top by little spines. The bone 
or support is nearly of the substance of wood.” Ellis. 
3. G. anceps, branched , sub dichotomous ; branches with the 
flesh flat on each side , with a row of little mouths along both the 
margins. Mr Dale. * 
Plate XXV. Fig. 3. 
Keratophyton dichotomum ; caule et ramulis leviter compressis, Raii , Syn. 
32. Sea Willow, Ellis, Corail. 68. no. 2, tab. 27, fig. g Gorgonia 
anceps, Pall. Elench. 183. Ellis and Soland. Zooph. 89. Berk. Syn. 
i. 212. Lin. Syst. 1292. Turt. Br. Faun. 206. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. 
ii. 317. 2de edit. ii. 494. Lamour. Cor. Flex. p. 395. Turt. Gmel. iv. 
649. Bose, Vers, iii. 37. Lamarck in Mem. du Mus. ii. 84. Corall. 
200. Stew. Elem. ii. p. 430. Flem. Brit. Anim. p. 512. La Gorgone 
gladiee, Blainv. Actinol. 505. 
Hab. Deep water, very rare. Found by Mr Dale growing near 
Margate, Dillenius. Now and then found on the coast of Great 
Britain and Ireland ; but not frequently, Ellis. 
44 This Gorgon is branched nearly in a subdivided manner.” 44 The 
bone is roundish, and small at the ends, of a horny nature, inclining 
to leather.” Specimens recent from the sea 44 are of a fine violet co- 
lour ; but when we receive them, some are yellow, others white.” 
Ellis. The claims of this species to be considered a British native 
are doubtful. 
The following species, referable to this family, have been indicat- 
ed as British, but neither figures nor descriptions of any of them, de- 
rived from native specimens , have been as yet published : 
Gorgonia Flabellum, “ grows in form of a net , with its 
branches compressed inwardly : the flesh is yellow , sometimes pur- 
* 44 Samuel Dale, Medicus et Pharmacopoeus vicinus et familiaris noster, 
Bantrise in Essexia degens,” one of the four botanists to whom Ray acknowledges 
his greatest obligations in the compilation of his 44 Historia Plantarum.” Prcef. 
1686 — -He died in 1739, set. 80. Petiver affectionately styles him 44 my very 
kind friend,” and 44 our curious brother.” — In the latter period of his life he set - 
tled as a physician at Booking. He is the author of a 44 Pharmacologia,” and 
of a History of Harwich, — both works of merit, and once of repute. See Pul- 
teney’s Sketches, Vol. ii. p. 122-8- Pulteney says he was a F. R. S., but Ido 
not find his name in the list of Fellows given by Dr Thomson. 
