34 S E R T V L A R I A. 



lines is formed, as we find them on.oyflers and other fliell- 

 fiih, when we drag for them in deep water. Nothing can 

 explain this extraordinary and wonderful proceeding 

 of nature fo clearly, of an animal produced by fuckers 

 like a plant, as the inftance I have already given in the 

 Philofophical Tranfactions, vol. 57. p. 436. of the in- 

 creafe of the cluftered Animal Flower, or Actinia fociata, 

 where the animal and its organs are large enough, with- 

 out the ailiftance of a microfcope, to convince us of the 

 truth of this furprizing fact ; and yet thefe organs are to- 

 tally different from thofe of a plant. Here then we fee 

 branched animals formed as infects are, with a horny 

 fheath to cover them, which anfwers the purpofe of bones, 

 while the fofter parts are contained in the iniide. When 

 we view the different manner and various forms in which 

 thefe Sertularias grow, we fhall flill find that, notwith- 

 ftanding their external appearance, they all agree in the 

 general character of this genus. 



Some fend out but few and fliort tubes from their bafe, 

 and rife up into firm ftiff fingle ftems, growing thicker 

 and alfo broader at their bottom as they grow old ; fuch. 

 as we may obferve in the Sertularia argentea, or Squirrel's- 

 tail Coralline, S. Thuja, or Bottle-brufh Coralline, S. 

 abietina, or Sea-fir Coralline, and S. Pinafter, or 

 Sea-pine Coralline, and many others. Some arife from 

 little tubes ramified like a fponge ; thefe enter into, 

 and compofe large ftems, as in the Sertularia an- 

 tennina, or Lobfter's-horn Coralline, and the S. Myrio- 

 phyllon, or Pheafant's-tail Coralline. Some fend out 

 tubes more remote, from whence arife fhorter and more 

 diftant branches, as the Sertularia pumila, or Sea-oak, 

 Coralline, and the S. geniculata, or Knotted fea-thread 

 Coralline : but the moft fingular are thofe which, from a 

 congeries of little tubes, form ftems and branches, not 

 1 unlike 



