| OCR Text |
Show 406 POLYPI. in the cavities of which they are received, and which envelopes an axis varying in form and substance. The PolY}li of those that have been observed are somewhat more complex than the preceding ones and approximate more closely to the Actinire. Internally we observe a stomach from which eight intestines originate, two that are prolonged into the common mass, and two that are shorter, and seem to supply the place of ovaries( I). They are subdivided into four tribes. In the first, that of the CEUA TOPHYT A, The internal axis has the appearance of wood or horn, and is fixed. 'fwo genera ofthem are known, and both extremely numerous. ANTIP ATHES, Lin. Commonly termed Black Coral, where the ramous and ligneous· like substance of the axis is enveloped with a bark so soft, that it becomes destroyed after death, when it resembles branches of dry wood(2). GoRGONIA, L. Where, on the contrary, this horny or ligneous substance of the axis is enveloped by a bark the thickness of which is so penetrated by calcareous granules, that it dries on the axis, retaining its colours, which are frequently extremely vivid and beautiful; it is soluble in acids. The Polypi of several species have been observed; each one is furnished with eight denticulated arms, a stomach, &c. like those of Corallina and Alcyonium(s). ( 1) M. Savigny has published some observations on these animals, not leas inte· resting than those on the compound Ascidia. (2) .!lnt. spiralis, Sol. and Ell., pl, XIX, f. 1, 6; and the other species indicated by Lamarck, Anim. sans Vert., II, p. 305, et seq. (3) Gorgoniapinnata, Gm. ;-G. americana;-G. setosa;-G. sanguirwlenta, which Lamouroux considers as varieties of a single species;-G. petechisam, Sal. and Ell., XVI;-G. patula, Sol. and Ell., XV, f. 3, 4;-G. palma, Sol. and Ell., XI;-G· CORALLIFERI. 407 M. Lamou1·ou x separates from them ,• PLEXAVREs, Of which the thick b k . I s t•g h t 1y m• acids( l). ar ' With no n-sa 1t' ent cells ' e~ure rvesces but EUNIOEA, Where the b ar1 ( ' orgam.z ed rk h ed with projecting mammillre fi e t a~ of the Plexaures, is furnish, rom which tl p 1 . le 0 YPI protrude(2). MvRIOEA, .Where the moderately thick bark is . mtllre, covered with imb . proVIded with pt•ojecting rtcated and rough scales(3). matn- PRIMNOA, Where the elongated I 0 mammillre become · 1 11· ne over the other(4). Imbricated by ha · ' ngmg In the second tribe, that of the ., I '1 I Jf !t -.f ,, , LITHOPHYT A . The internal . . , ,, "~ axis IS of a strong substance and fixed. ,, In Isis, Lin. This axis is ram ous, and has no cells or ca ·r . VI tes on Its surface. The verriculata, I d. XVII ·-G 1 __ f op hy ta, Id., II, l, 2, 3· • umuraculu m, Id ., X ;-G. ~serta, Id verticillaris, Id., II 4' s.' IX, 5, ~· 7, 8; XU, 2, 3; G. vimi .,l~V, 1, 2;-G. cera- (1) G~ . ' ' ,-G. Bnareus, Id. XIV 1 2 8c na u, Id., XII, 1·-G XX -goma craBsa, Gm., Ac. des Sc i ' ' .~ c. , . VI, f. p, q, r;-G. friabif . ., 700• pl. u;-G. suberos (2) Gorgonia antipathes S ~· Lamou.r., Sol. and Ell., XVIIT f. 3a, Ell., Corall., Sol. and Ell., XVIII f. 1· ' e ., liT, ctv, 2, cvii, 4;-Eun / : . . add. to Sol. and Ell: ~x·;~~n. clavaria, Id., lb., 2;-Eu~. :ijorm&a, Lamour., ( 3) M. · :~: ' · ->. mmosa, Lamour . spzclJera, Lamour ., f. 1, 2;-M el ., or Gorg. muricata, Gm . A . I ( 4) G . ongata, Lamour., Id. f. 3 4 . ' PP· to Sol. ~nd Ell. LXXI org. reseda ' Qm .; Sol. and Ell. ' XI•I I f. • , ' ' ' . 1, 2. , J ' |
