C +51 ] 
like a cup, which, when the animal is alive and at 
reft, contracts and expands itfelf to many different 
degrees, with great alertnefs and velocity, though 
fometimes it remains a great while expanded, or con- 
tracted. In all thefe holes, the central large one, as 
well as the fmaller ones (which laft I take to be the 
mouths of the animal) I could not perceive any ten- 
tacula, or claws, on the outfide ; but by looking into 
them very narrowly, I faw fomething like very ten- 
der little fibres moving at the bottom of their infides. 
By comparing and examining-all the various pieces 
I had collected of this flefhy fubftance, with its 
fhining ftars, I obferved, that the fize and colour, 
as well as the very figure of thcle ftars, varied greatly, 
but the ftruCture of the leaf-like radii, and that of 
their mouths, and their motions, were perfectly the 
fame, in every one individual. 
Many of thefe bodies I have found fo thick and 
large as to refemble the great branch’d Madrepora 
coral, efpecially as they are generally to be met with 
covering and inclofing the ftem and branches of this 
ftift, ramofe fucus. Thus far D. Schlolfer. 
Fig. A ( rAB.XIIH) exprelfes this alcyonium in ita- 
natural fize, furrounding the ftem and branches 
of a fucus. I have called it, alcyonium carnofam 
ajlerijcis , radiis obtuJIs ■ ornatum. 
Fig. B , part of a leaf of the common alga, or fea- 
grafs, with 4 of thefe ftarry figures on it. 
Fig, C, one of the ftars magnified. 
Fig. D , reprefents the fucus, on which it grows, 
which I cannot find anv- where deferibed. I have 
j 
intitled it, in my collection of Englilh fucus’s, by 
the following deferiptive name, Fucus teres fru— 
Uj'cenSy. 
