Mr. ellis on the Gorgonia . 3 
tudinal parallel tubes, running along the internal fur- 
face of the flcfhy part. In the coats of thefe tubes are a 
number of fmall orifices, through which the ojfeous li- 
quor (if I may ufe the expreffion) exudes ; and concret- 
ing, forms the layers of that hard part of the annular 
circles, which fome, judging from the confluence rather 
than the texture, have erroneoully denominated wood. 
Dr. pallas, in his Blench. Zoophytorum , p. 162. is of 
opinion, that the layers of which the wood, as he calls 
it, of the tougher gorgonia is compofed, may be fepa- 
rated into numerous longitudinal fibres ; that the longi- 
tudinal Jlria, which frequently appear on its external 
furface, are owing to this ffrudure; and that thefe fibres 
are in fad "hollow, like the wood of trees, the cavity of 
the tubes being doled up, as they become hard and rigid. 
I was nearly of the fame opinion when I w r as writing 
my EJJay on Corallines , as may be feen in the Philofo- 
phical Tranfadions. voL XLVIII. p. 1 8. and alfo p. 504. 
/. 17. where I have compared the herring-bone coral- 
line, which is compofed of many little tubes, to the 
growth of fea-fans and fea-feathers, now called gorgonia ; 
and like wife in my Obfervations on the Growth of the 
red and white Coral , fee Philofophical Tranfadions, 
vol. XLVIII. p. 504. t. 17.; but experience has fince 
fully convinced me of the contrary : for upon the ftrideft 
examination with the microlcope, of the internal horny 
parts of leveral of thofe gorgonia frefli from the fea, 
and immediately preferved in fpirits, not the leaf! ap- 
pearance of tubes within the horny part can be difcerned, 
either in the longitudinal or tranfverfe fedions. There 
