59 
a thickness, and marked 'vit.li stellate depressions, beneatli 
^, n ‘ch tlte polypes lie hid; in this state it is called Sea 
In a more advanced state, the crust gets thicker 
B( 1 rises into nipple-like processes, in which state the fisb- 
call them Teats, and in the north of England Cows’ 
j- a P s , each of which is characteristic of its lorm. As it still 
^rth e r advances in growth, it becomes an irregular lobulated 
Pongy mass, and in this state acquires the not very elegant 
a nte of Dead man's toes or Headman's hands. 
Externally it is of an orange colour, and is marked with 
j. c ilate depressions of eight rays, answering to the number of 
tentacula of the polype. The skin is tough and coria- 
8 eo «s, with minute calcareous points. In a longitudinal 
."'•'lion, the substance is found to be composed of tubes which 
s r °ceed from the base of the cells through the mass and 
piously anastomose with each other ; so that an inter- 
(j^ge of communication is kept up between each polype and 
a e whole mass. From this frequent interchange of com- 
plication, the whole mass has a hard spongy texture. 
a j, e spaces between the inosculating tubes, are filled up with 
. l0e tubular net work; in which is diffused a semi-trans- 
j^Ht gelatinous substance; having imbedded in it serrated 
(I^Sular spicula. The tubes are composed of two, if not 
layers of tissues; a cartilaginous, muscular, and mem- 
C°« s tunic, each of which also assists in forming the 
a?, an< l sides of the cells. 
i, i e polypes are semitransparent and conoidal; the apex 
i llr rilr 'cated, the centre of the surface is occupied by the 
t e l “> and the circumference surrounded by eight fringed' 
H i^ a ‘ The n,out h 0 P« ns i nto a membranous stomach 
li 0( j 1 is freely suspended in the transparent tube forming the 
(.y. - °f the polype. The space between the stomach and the 
Part° r(la * Wa ** H * l ^ e an * nla '> * s divided into longitudinal .coni- 
ng t,a ents by eight thin membranous septa, which unite the 
in and external parietos together, and keep the stomach 
bej^- At the base of the stomach is an orifice, which from 
tui ® larger at one time than another, is probably of a mus~ 
fil ai r mature; around this orifice are suspended eight opaque 
T he ,ea «°us threads which hang loosely in the cavity below. 
| ligr. Se . breads, are probably subservient to tile function of 
< u st, on, and partake of the character of a liver. The 
111 which these filaments are suspended, which may be 
the ,", <!re d as the abdomen of the animal, cummunicates with 
a bes which traverse the polype mass. The ova, which 
«sc a *'" a ' erou s, are formed in the sides of the tubes, and 
l hat ' ° throu S*> the opening at the base of the stomach, into 
Cav ity, and f rom thence, through the mouth into the 
