i6 



SEA-ANEMONES AND CORALS, 



No. 



countless multitudes living together in one community. 



The adjoining figure shows you a 

 part of such a community.* When 

 the first coral animal has undergone 

 the changes I have described, and 

 assumed its permanent character, it 

 begins to spread and grow taller; 

 and from its surface, either from 

 the base or from the sides, grow 

 up other animals of the same kind, 

 remaining always attached to the 

 first, and increasing till they are 

 crowded together in hundreds and thousands and mil- 

 lions, on one foundation. This way of growing is called 



budding, because it 

 resembles a little the 

 branching of a plant ; 

 but each bud is noth- 

 ing but a new animal, 

 remaining connected 

 with the preceding as 

 the branches of a tree 

 with the stem. 



The various kinds 

 of Corals differ greatly 

 in size and mode of 

 growth. In some coral 

 communities, the sep- 

 arate animals are no 

 No - " larger than a pin's 



A branch of full-grown Forties in natural size. 



