CORALLINES. 
169 
(Gray), and Leiopathes La/marckii (Haime), were present on the same 
polypier, the Gerardiu of Lamarck. It is thus recognised that, under 
the general denomination of polypiers, very distinct species are found, 
some being of the Hydra type, others belonging to the Pl-umularia. 
l'he first are very common on our coast : they include the Tubulana, 
the Campanularia, and the Sertularia. 
The Seed Tubularia (T. indivisa ) produces a remarkably curious 
polypier : its numerous stems are horny, yellow, and marked at intervals 
with irregular knots, resembling the joints of a straw. Their lower ex- 
tremity is tortuous, and apt to adhere to foreign bodies ; the upper part 
is nearly upright, and slightly flexuons, the whole resembling some 
flowering plant, without leaves or lateral branches. The Ccuupanularias 
a re altogether diflerent ; the end of the branches whence the polypes 
issue are broad and bell-shaped, C. dichotoma presenting a stem of 
brownish colour, thin as a silken thread, but strong and elastic. The 
Polypes are numerous, a branch eight inches in height being inhabited 
V as many as twelve hundred individuals. 
The Sertularias have a horny stem, sometimes simple, sometimes 
branching, and may easily be mistaken for small plants. Their name 
is derived from the Latin sertum, a bouquet ; and, indeed, they can 
0I1 ly be described as trees in miniature, with branches yellow and 
Se mi-transparent, each tree having seven, eight, twelve, or twenty small 
Panicles, each of which will contain about five hundred animalcules, the 
Gee itself containing probably ten thousand associated polypes. Occa- 
sionally Sertularia argentea is said to afford shelter and employment 
f°r a hundred thousand of these creatures. S. falcata, having all the 
§ r »ce and elegance of the delicate and slender Mimosa, is now placed 
atn °ng the Bryozoares. 
The minute cells in which the polypes are lodged are not always 
arranged in the same manner. Sometimes the cells occupy one side 
° nl y ; in other instances they occupy both ; sometimes they are grouped 
Ake the pipes of an organ, at others they are ranged spirally round 
bbe stem, or arranged at intervals, forming horizontal rings round it. 
The Alcyonaria are very common on some parts of our coast, where 
scarcely a stone or shell is dredged up that does not support one or 
^ore specimens known to the fishermen as “ cow’s paps,” “ dead men’s 
Aggers,” and other popular names. This round and lobed fleshy mass 
18 quite a colony in itself ; placed in pure sea water, it very soon pre- 
