SOMETHING ABOUT POLYPES. ' 103 



themselves a solid, central, horny, or calcareous axis, with tree-like expansions 

 covered with a living bark. The Corallium rubrum, or red coral, is the 

 most interesting of this group, and I cannot do better than describe it in 

 the words of Rymer Jones: — "In its living state this animal resembles a 

 short stunted tree, fixed to the surface of the rock by a broadly expanded 

 base, from which it rises, at first with a single stem of varying magnitude, 

 which soon divides into branches, so as to resemble a leafless shrub, rising 

 the height of about eighteen inches. The central axis of the coral is of 

 stony hardness, insomuch indeed, that to this circumstance it owes its principal 

 value in commerce, on account of the high polish of which it is susceptible. 

 In the growing coral, this stony centre is entirely invested with a fleshy 

 cortex, that constitutes the living portion of the Zoophyte, whereby the 

 central stem is deposited, and the whole external surface is studded at intervals 

 with Polypes." This coral is found in the Mediterranean, on the south of 

 Sicily, in the islands of Minorca and Majorca, and on the coast of Africa. 

 The next families we may notice are the Zoanthidce, or Animal flowers, 

 and the Sea Anemones, or Actiniadce. The former may be considered a 

 number of Actiniae, united together by a leathery substance or polypary, 

 encrusted with foreign bodies. The Sea Anemones, on the contrary, are 

 free, soft, and fleshy; their mouths surrounded by several circles of tentacles, 

 and tinged with a beautiful variety of colours, resembling our radiated flowers, 

 hence their English name. They are found on the shores of every sea; and 

 the sea-side naturalist may be often richly rewarded by observing the habits 

 of those which dwell on rocks or stones between the tide-marks, where, if 

 undisturbed, they expand themselves in all their beauty's pride. Those in 

 tropical waters far surpass in brilliancy the species which live in colder 

 regions. Quoy and Gaimard relate that some of the tropical Actinice are a 

 foot in length, and when handled produce a stinging sensation, which is even 

 felt in the water they absorb. Like the Hydra, they are endowed with 

 the power of re-production, and however divided, each part will develope a 

 perfect flower. When their tentacles are expanded in search of prey, they 

 are beautiful objects; but on being disturbed, they contract themselves so 

 entirely, as to be scarcely distinguished from the surface to which they 

 adhere. They increase prodigiously by ova or eggs; each Actinia possessing 

 above a hundred ovaria, each ovary containing sixty eggs. They are likewise 

 viviparous, as the young have been often observed issuing from the oral 

 aperture of the parent. This wonderful fecundity is common to all the tribe 

 of Polypes. 



"All which are made with wond'roiis wise respect, 

 And all with admirable beauty deckt." 



These Sea Anemones are extremely voracious, feeding on small crabs, whelks, 

 and other shells, and frequently attacking and conquering animals of greater 

 bulk than themselves; they can, however, endure long fasting, and have been 

 known to live a year without food. The Abbe Dicquemare, who closely 



