496 Mr. Stutchbury on the Growth of young Corals 



quoted from Rumphius, in regard to the animal of F. agarici- 

 formis. " The more elevated folds or plaits have borders like 

 the denticulated edges of needlework lace ; these are covered 

 with innumerable oblong vesicles formed of a gelatinous sub- 

 stance, which appear alive under water, and may be observed 

 to move like an insect." 



I observed these radiating folds of the animal, which secrete 

 the lamellae, and which shrink between them when the animal 

 contracts itself on being disturbed. They are constantly moving 

 in tremulous undulations; but the vesicles above described ap- 

 peared to me to be air-vessels, placed along the edges of the 

 folds ; and it is some confirmation of this opinion, that the vesi- 

 cles disappeared when the animal was touched. 



This arrangement of air-vessels would very materially assist 

 in keeping uppermost the convex disc of the coral, and be of 

 vital importance to the young polype at the time of separation, 

 and subsequently, in keeping it upon the surface of its sandy 

 bed : or if they were moved by a sudden roll of the sea, which 

 would lift even the most ponderous, and possibly convey them 

 a considerable distance, they would be again deposited in their 

 natural position. 



That they have no power of turning themselves I proved 

 during a sojourn of six weeks at Tahiti, by placing a healthy 

 specimen with its upper surface downwards, during which time 

 it remained in the position placed, and the vitality of the points 

 of contact with the rock upon which it was laid, was destroyed. 



In Fungia limacina I have seen instances where the coral, 

 having been accidentally placed, and permanently fixed in such 

 unusual positions, has adapted itself to its new situation, by 

 increasing upon its edges and forming a new convex surface. 



Since writing the preceding, it has been pointed out to me 

 that in April 1828, some months after my arrival in England 



with 



