Primnoa. 
ZOOPHYTA. CORALLINAD^. 513 
Gen. XXXIII. PRIMNOA. — Cells subpedunculated pendu- 
lous. The axis, when young, is corneous, but in the older 
branches it becomes like bone. The flesh is covered with 
minute fixed scales. The cells are crowded, bell-shaped, 
and with the aperture, according to Raster, closed by two 
valves, covered with imbricated moveable scales. The 
branches are dichotomous. M. Lamouroux, who first se- 
parated this genus from Gorgonia, considers the pendulous 
cells as the polypi themselves. 
77. P. le^adifera. 
Gorgonia lep. Bast. sp. 11. 130. t. xiii. f. ]. Zoop. p. 84, tab. xiii. 
f. 1, 2. 
This species, which is common on the Norwegian coast, has been found, 
according to Professor Jameson (Wern. Mem. i. p. 560.), at Zetland and 
Aberdeenshire. 
corallinadj:. 
The objects of this group, forming the genus Corallina of Linnaeus, 
are usually piantdike or branched, and consist of two substances, a 
central corneous axis, and an external calcareous crust. The axis is 
sometimes fleshy, and shrinks by drying, leaving a tubular cavity. The 
substance is fibrous, and united with the exterior crust. This last is 
hard, studded on the surface with minute marginated pores, and usually 
covering the axis in an irregularly interrupted manner, giving the body 
a jointed appearance. When the calcareous matter is removed by a 
weak acid, a granular-looking skeleton remains, the granules appearing 
to be united with the extremities of the fibres which proceed fi’om the 
axis, and seem to be the remains of the polypi. Reproduction appears 
to take place by means of enlargements or processes, on the sides, or 
at the extremities, forming hollow cells, chiefly derived from the corti- 
cal layer. Ellis observes, “ That we may perceive the pores or cells 
of this class the more distinctly, it is necessary they should be viewed 
immediately upon being taken out of the sea ; for, as they dry, the cre- 
taceous or coralline matter shrinks, and unites the pore-like cells on 
the surface, scarcely to be distinguished from a polished superficies, 
without the help of the very best glasses.” All the species reside in 
shallow water, in places accessible at low water of spring-tides. 
K k 
VOL. I. 
