52 
all 
tlio.y mav however be reduced to three primary ones, 
others being mere variations of them. Each form has 
verv appropriate name applied to it by the lishernie^’ 
which though far from elegant is very expressive. In 1 
youngest state it is merely an encrusting him of about a 11 
in thickness and is called Sea Scruff ; in the next stage < s 
become a simple lobe or (ingerlike prolongation, and is tu® 
called paps or teats. Io its most perfect state it has beeon 
larm? and irregularly tabulated, and is then called dead mn 
hands, or dead man's toes. The surface is very coriaceou - 
filled with small calcareous spiculas, and marked with st* ^ 
shaped depressions similar to those ot the Gorgonia. I” 
longitudinal section of a full grown specimen, the cut surf*' 
is found to he composed of a complicated kind of net 
with lozenge-shaped meshes. From the cells in whi<- 
polypes rest, tubes are prolonged throughout the mass. 8 
freelv communicate with each other. Though one tube ' 
not communicate with all the rest, yet there is such an esf ^ 
sive interchange of communication, that such may almo= 
said to be the case. They open into each other chiefly »/ 
osculation ; but the tubes are perforated in all parts by m' 1 ’^ 
openings which lead into small canals. These canals cross -ui 
spaces between the large tubes and join similar canals }< 
other parts ; these are also perforated and send oil cap* 
ducts which traverse the meshes formed by the tubes H’ 
direction; this capillary net work is pervaded by the 
like flesh of the polype mass which encloses the spied® 
cribed hy authors, If coloured water be given to the po'^J 
which will not irritate, it first passes into the stomach * 
from thence, through the opening at its base, into the a " ,, 
minal cavity beneath, into the spaces formed by the » L 
and from thence into the tentacula which then becom® 0 f 
tended. In passing downwards it goes through the bas j 5 
the cells into the tubes, through their openings into the c» 
and from thence into the capillary duels and surrouo 
gelatine, by which the mass becomes swollen and enlarg 
it is commonly found. . 
The tubes are formed of two, if not of three tunics, » js t 
are subservient to different functions, but mutually * ■ y 
each other. The inner or lining membrane is tb|B» 1 e \\ 
parent, and continuous with the lining membrane ot W j is 
and the enter transparent part of the polype. 'I he sec ^ 
cartilaginous, with the fibres laying in a longitudinal' 
tion; this being elastic allows of a certain degree ot e»t«" # t,e 
and when the distending force is lessened, enables tn®^,,,, 
to regain its former length. Beside these, and between ^ { e> 
I have on several occasions found minute circular j fl 0' 
which are white, and I believe, muscular, and assist t 1 
