48 
I have G7Cr procured is the common Sea Fern, G. verrnrnP 1 ’ 
which is os cry where abundant. This species presents a 2 r,> ' 1 
variety of form, two of which induced the late Mr. Sowerbv 10 
elevate them into distinct, species, but for this there does "" 
appear to be sufficient, reason, as the variations most probab*; 
depend on the localities in which they grow. 
The general appearance of the Gorgoniadce is stout, lf ' 
regularly arborescent, netted, and more or less palmate 0 
fan-shaped. They are composed of three distinct p arts ’ 
which, although it is necessary to separate in descript>° n ’ 
are inseparably united to each other in a physiological rt ’' 
lation, and constitute together the perfect animal. T " 1 
parts are the crust or bark, the horny axis, and the cent'" 9 
pith. The fleshy crust is always external and warted ; wk e . 
living, it is soft, fleshy, and of a light vermilion colour, whi 1 ’ 
in death becomes very friable and changes to a yellow'^ 
white. It is covered more or less thickly and irreguh 11 ' * 
with small wart-like prominences, which have on their s' 1 '"' 
mits the star-shaped depressions for the polypes. The d"' 
pressions have eight rays, answering to the number of *[ , 
tentacula; hut the circumference of the star is very frequent), 
encroached on for about a fifth of its extent by a fleshy 
which obscures several of the radii. The cells resemble 9 
inverted cone in shape, and are smooth and white. 1. 
bioadest part of the cone forms the aperture of the cell 1 . 
the expanded state, am! the apex is tubular and contin" 0 ^ 
through the crust in an oblique downward and inward dir""' 
tion till it reaches the horny axis. The tubes vary in lenjt* 1 
according to the thickness of the crust, but do not inoscul® 1 ® 
as in the Alryonium; after having reached the axis tb"' 
pierce the membrane of the crust which lies in contact '* fI 
the membrane of the axis, and pass beneath this membra" 
also in contact with the horn, and form the longitudinal r«r 9 
which are so frequently observed. The crust of the brand" ^ 
is very frequently disfigured with large globular prot""® 
ranees, similar to those figured by Ellis as occuring in 1 , 
G. abietina * and which on dissection prove to be uoii""; 
and to he formed by a separation of the membrane from [ ^ 
axis, forming a cavity which is partially filled with a «bi llS - t 
cellular substance. The surface of the fleshy bark, wber® ^ 
rests on the axis, is membranous and perforated bv nuine r °' 
oval orifices communicating on one side with the tubes of j \ f 
polypes, and on the other with the rug® of the axis. I'. 1 : jt 
membrane he examined under a microscope, especially 1 '-[i 
has been allowed to undergo partial decomposition, vV 
* Ellis and Solander’s Zooph., p. 116. 
