epidermis, exaöly covers them, as in the magnified figure
at C. Phil. Trahf. Vol. 49. tab. 14.
It appears from Dr. Borlafe’s account, that though
there were fibres fuppofed to move in the great hole in the
center, yet that the holes on the broad part of the rays
were the mouths of the animal. From Dr, Schloffer’s.
defcription it appears as if there were little fibres moving
both in the holes on the broad part of the rays, which
holes he likewife takes to be the mouths, of the animal,
and alfo fibres in the great opening of the epidermis in the
center, which opening he obferved to expand and contract
at particular times with great alertnefs and velocity.
The number of rays in thefe liars is from five to twelve
eight is the moft common number.
From the observations which I have already made on
this fubftanee in the Phildfophical T ranfaCtions, Vol. 49-
pag. 454. they don’t appear to me to be polypes^ extending
from ftarry openings on the furface, and confequently
not to anfwer the character of an Alcyonium, but
to be formed at different times with additional rays,
which we may perceive endeavouring to thruft their
pointed part towards the opening of the epidermis in the
center, and unite with the reft; befides, the whole intermediate
flelhy part is full of rou'ndifh bodies adhering
to fibres, which as they approach the furface appear more
péar-fhaped, but lower down they are fmaller and of a
globular form : thefe all feem to be the young beginnings
of future rays. In order to examine this fubftanee
more particularly, I have lately differed feveral of thefe
obtufe rays, which viewed fideways and feparately, have
the appearance of a ftomach. In the infide of thefe,
which was full of (r-ugse) wrinkles, I perceived fmall eggs,
and a loofe fubftanee, as if the food digefted. There is.
fomething
fomething lingular in the contraction and dilatation of the
opening of the outward Ikin over the holes at the fmaller
end of the rays. We cannot confider this as a mouth,
when at the lame tithe it is agreed that the holes on the
broad end of the rays are mouths; fo that the ufe of this
central hole muft be left to future obfervation, when it is
fufpe&ed it will be found to be a new genus.
Alcyonium with little J Treats. FX»3A.B4-. 5r,"
This whitifh leather-like
Alcyonium is fpread over
rocks, with many convex teat-
like figures, hollow in the
middle, with a faint ftar-like
appearance, and united clofe
together.
5. Alcyonium mammil-
T ab. i . F ig. 4. 5.
Lapidis AJlroitidis five fiellaris primordia. Sloane Hift.
lax*. Vol. 1. tab. 21. fig. x. 2. 3.
' Sir Hans Sloane, who has given a figure of this and the
following Alcyoniuni in his Hiftory of Jamaica, takes it
to he the beginning of the Aftroite C o r a lb u t the foft-
nefs óf the fubftanee, of which it is cómpo'fed, Ihews it
to be of a different genus. The Weft-Indiaifiands afford
us feveral varieties of this kind. Each mamilla, or cell,
has a polype within it, adhering to its bafe by twelve filaments,
which anfwer to as many tentacula when they extend
themfelves.
Fig. 4. is the natural fize of a piece of this Alcyonium;
fig. 5. is the figure of two cells opened perpendicularly to
A a 2 fhew
lofum.
Alcyonium albidum co-
Hctceum, mamillis cofivexis:
centra cavo Jubfiellatoy co-
adünatis.