146 M A D R E P O R A. 



By Madrepore Corals, we mean fuch Corals as have 

 their cells difpofed in a radiated form, like ftars. 



Imperatus was the hrft who had any idea of their be- 

 longing to the animnl kingdom : this hint he took from 

 the obfervations he had made at feveral times on the Ma- 

 drepora ramea, or great branched Cinamon Coral, which 

 at length fully confirmed his opinion. 



Rumphius defcribes the animal of the Fungus Saxeus, 

 orMadrepora Fungites Linn, fo difiincfly, that there re- 

 mains no doubt but that he fawit very clearly. He fays, 

 while it is alive in the fea, it is covered with a thick vifcid 

 matter, like ftarch : that the more elevated folds or plaits 

 have borders like the denticulated edges of needlework 

 lace : that thefe are covered with innumerable oblong ve- 

 iicles, formed of the fame gelatinous fubflance, which 

 appear alive under water, and may be obferved to move 

 like an in feci: : that as foon as the Coral was taken out of 

 the lea, and expofed to the air, all the mucous part, with 

 the little vtficles, mrunk in between the erect little plates,, 

 or lamella?, and difappeared ; and, in a fhort time, like 

 the Medufa?,. or Sea Jellies, melted away, leaving behind 

 them a moft difagreeable fetid fmell ; fo that it is clear 

 Prom hence that he, before any of the late difcoveries, 

 was acquainted with the animal nature of the Madrepores-. 

 Befides, he has plainly told us, that not only the feveral 

 Corals of the Eaft Indies, butalfo all the other Zoophytes 

 there, when they are frefb, are pofieiied by a gelatinous 

 animal of a fifhy. nature. 



Dr. Pevfonell afterwards confirmed thefe difcoveries, 

 and confiders the Madrepore Corals in particular as a meer 

 aggregate of the fhells of this animal, which he fays is a 

 ipecies of the Urtica marina ; but it is probable he was 

 millaken in the animal, as will appear hereafter from the 



more 



