atum, attenuatum bafique
explanation, teElum carne
molliori vafcidofa et cellu-
lofa (fed exficcata, con-
fiftentia fpongiofa et fria -
Ofculis polypiferis nu-
trimentum forbentibus, o-
viparifque, inJlruEhtm.
the ends, as it rifes upwards,
and fpreads out at the bafe.
This bony or hard part is covered
with a foftifh flefh, full
o f fmall veffels and cells,
which, when dry, becomes of
a fpongy and friable confidence.
Thefe cells are furnifhed
with little mouths, out o f
which the polypes extend
themfelves to procure nourifh-
ment, and fend forth their
fpawn.
This genus of Zoophytes, being the mod remarkable
for its fize, as well as the variety in the confidence of
its internal hard part in feveral different fpecies, it becomes
more neceffary to be particular in explaining how
the growth and dructure of it departs from that of vegetables
; efpecially as the generality of mankind are drong-
ly prepoffeffed, from their external ramified appearance
and other circumdances, that they are really true marine
vegetable fhrubs; others, that they are of a mixt nature,
between animals and vegetables.
In my Effay on Corallines, I have called this genus by
the name of Keratophyton ; but as the name of Gorgonia,
from Pliny, has been fubdituted by the celebrated Linnaeus
indead of it, I fhall adopt it accordingly.
My former defcription of this animal, Effay on Corallines,.
pag. 59. was taken from dried fpecimens, and
was as well as their fhrivelled and friable fituation would
admit. Since that time, I have had frequent opportunities
of examining many fpecies perfectly well preferved,
which I had defired might be immerfed in fpmts the m-
dant they were taken out of the fea : by this means, I
became poffeffed of many curious ones,, both from the
Mediterranean and Wed-India feas.. So that what formerly
appeared to me to be a friable calcareous matter, I
now find to be a real flefhy fubdance ; and that the internal
hard part is of the fame ufe to thefe animals, a®
bones are to other animals, that are cloathed with flefh.
Such of thefe animals as were carefully preferved in fpirits,
appeared as if they were alive, with their polype-like
fuckers extended in the aflion of catching their food, and
afforded me great pleafure to be able to examine them
with fome exa&nefs.
I fird differed them longitudinally, and perceived that
their fiefh was furnifhed with an infinite number of minute
mufcles and tendons, contrived in fuch a manner,
that, at the Will of thefe animals, they might extend the
openings of their cells on the outward furface, in order
to fend forth their polype-like fuckers, to dretch out
their arms in fearch of food, or contract the fame openings
fuddenly, the indant the polype fuckers were drawn,
back into their cells, the better to fecure thefe tender
parts from external injury.
Proceeding thus far, I was led on to obferve, what kind:
of communication there was between the fuckers and the
bone of the animal for this end I examined feveral fpecimens,
both dry, as well as thofe that were preferved in
fpirits, with good magnifying glades, and could didinctly
trace an infinite number of minute winding canals, that
lead from the fuckers through the flefh into, thofe parallel
longitudinal tubes, which clofely furround the bone or
folid part on all fides ; perhaps thefe may not improperly