Alcyonium
in zoölogy, a genus of polyps; the typical one of the family alcyonidæ. The alcyonium digitatum is found attached to stones, mussel shells, as "dead men's fingers," "dead men's toes," and "cow's paps." These names are applied to the alcyonium from its resemblance to finger-shaped masses, each of which masses consists of a col- ALDEN ony of several hundred polyps united to form a composite organism. They are found attached to stones, mussel shells, and other objects. The alcyonium carneum abounds on the shores of America N. of the latitude of Cape Cod. com-