History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

512 ZOOPHYTA. GORGONIADiE. Gorgonja.Ellis, Cor. p. 61. t. xx vi. A. Linn. Syst. 1293—Cast ashore, Mount'sBay, Cornwall, Borlase.—Leith shore, Mr John Mackay.The axis is black, the cells minute, scattered, and occurring chiefly on oneside. There is no satisfactory evidence that this species is indigenous to ourrocks. The specimens which have been found among the rejectamenta ofthe sea, have probably belonged to some wrecked vessel from the West Indies.At the same time, Mr Neill informs me that he saw Mr Mackay'sspecimen shortly after it was found, and that it had all the aspect of beingfresh and recent.74. G. anceps.— Subdichotomously branched, the branchesfree, compressed, with cells on each margin.Keratophvton dichotomum ;caule et ramulis lreviter compi-essis, Ray,Svn. p."32 Sea-willow, Ellis, Cor. p. 68. tab. xxvii. f. 2-9—G. an.Linn. Syst. 1292 Margate, Mr (Ray)— Dale Ireland, Ellis.The axis is of a horny nature, inclining to leather. The cells are in rows.b. Cells prominent, with armed margins.75. G. placomus.— Margins of the cells spinous.Keratophyton flabelliforme, cortice verrucoso obductum, Ray, Syn. 32 ?Warted Sea-Fan. Ellis, Cor. p. 67- tab. xxvii. f. 1. a. A. A. 1. A. 2.A. 3. Borl. Corn. p. 238. tab. xxvii. No. 1. Linn. Syst. 1290— Rocks,Cornwall.The axis is ligneous.The branches are dichotomous, a little compressed,irregularly incurved, but rarely uniting. The flesh is full of denticulatedspicula. The cells are conical, angular, and covered on the margin withlittle spines or pointed scales. It is probable that the references to Hayshould be added to the following species,as Linnseus has clone.76. G. verrucosa.— Margins of the cells denticulated.Ellis, Phil. Trans, i. t. xxxiv. f. 19. a. Linn. i.Syst. 1291. Cav. Memp.32. tab. i. f. 1-11 G. viminalis? Sowerby, Brit. Misc. tab. xl—Cornwall, Ellis, and Mr Batten.— Devonshire, — Montagu. Scotland,Sowerby.The axis iswoody, and the flesh granular.The branches grow in a flatfan-shaped manner,' subdichotomous. The cells are crowded irregularly, andtheir margins are denticulated. In Mr Sowerby's figure, one of the notchesis represented as much larger than the others, forming about one-third of themargin. This appearance, however, is irregular, as in a specimen which Ireceived from Mr J. D. C. Sowerby, as the*G. viminalis of his father ; themargin of the cells was regularly denticulated in some, and in others the largetooth was variable in the proportion of the margin which it occupied. Thoughthis circumstance has been overlooked by preceding authors, there is littlereason to consider it the indication of a new unless species, genuine specimensof G. verrucosa can be produced destitute of this character ; and thereis no ground for it considering as the G. viminalis of Ellis. According to Cavolini,the tentacula of the polypi are flat, tapering, and pinnated, and thebody or head supporting these, "protrudes considerably beyond the margin.3