44 
situated interiorly : the exterior being occupied bv the P°J' r 
pes and the fleshy crnst. The general appearance of the. or< 
varies a great deal in the different families, each being ‘ ^ 
similar from the others ; one is palmate and arboresec j 
another crnstaceons and lobnlated, and another p! union* ‘ 
linear elongated; but they may all be readily known by ha' -c 
eight-rayed starred depressions distributed over the snt . 
The character of the order is; Polypes compound, f»° 
encircled with eight fringed tcnfacula ; stomach membran 
iciih dependent msenliform appendages at Us base; anus no 
intestine none; reproductive gemmules produced inter io’- 
Polypidom, when existing , internal, horny or calcareous. J , 
or rooted; polype mass arborescent, lobed or plumous ; ext 
crust fleshy, marked with star-shaped depressions of eight ( 
for the polypes. Ail the species are compound, or comp 0 
of an aggregated series of polypes. The British species 
distributed over the three families of Gorgoniadce, Alcy° n . 
and Pennatulidae , of the last of which no species has . .. 
been found in the Cornish seas; though Bellamy m ^ 
Natural History of South Devon mentions that PennW 
phnsphorea has been fouml in Devon by Turton. y 
The Cornish species of the order, therefore divide to 
selves into two very natural groups; the Gorgoniadce, ^ 
arborescent with an internal horny axis; the Alcyonidw, 
crusting or lobnlated and destitute of an axis. , e f 
The form of the polype is common to the whole o ^ 
and is the part by which it is characterized. In its , [S 
panded state it is a transparent truncated cone ; having 
base towards the polypidom, and the truncated extren^ 
raised and surrounded by eight, fringed tentacula. i i lC ’ ,j, 
being transparent., ailow all the internal organs to be - 
and 'this transparent membrane is composed of two * a ) 
one of which is continuous with the external investing * ^0 
brane of the crusts and the other is continuous ,,iu 
polypes to the cells and tubes, forming their internal s _ ,s 
lining. In the centre of the circle formed by the tentacu ^ 
the month, which opens by a short and narrow passage 
the stomach. The stomach is membranous and hung fi 
pended in the upper and central portion of the transp .5 
cavity, but separated from the sides by an intervening *1 ,„l 
which is divided into compartments by eight transp® jjs 
longitudinal septa. These septa appear to be toruied o . 
of the internal membrane of tlie polype and are altac * 
the outer surface of the stomach ; but as they are longe gll il 
that organ, a portion of their internal edge is unattacbe ^ ( |,ij 
hangs loosely in the caviiy beueath. At tl : e 
stomach is a minute orihce which appears to he e .-it/ 
by a circular muscle, which opens into the abdominal 
