Living Lights that Never Die 287 



as make up a branch of coral, Is called the coralliim. 

 Corals reproduce by eggs, by budding, and by self- 

 division. It Is, In fact, due to the way In which budding 

 or division takes place that the characteristic shape of 

 the corallum Is formed In the various species. In 

 branched corals, the budding Is confined to certain mem- 

 bers of the colony, which results In that beautiful type; 

 but the formation of so-called brain corals Is caused by 

 the process of division. Now If we followed the devel- 

 opment of a growing coral, starting with the free- 

 swlmmlng egg, we should see It attach Itself to a stone 

 or some hard object and commence first to build a little 

 platform or base. Then a thin edge or rim would rise 

 around the periphery, Increasing dally In diameter and 

 height. At the same time, though unseen, the growing 

 creature Is building within the coralllte a number of 

 partitions that extend from the cuplike rim toward the 

 center but do not meet. If the coralllte be cut across, 

 the lime that forms the rim and radiating partitions 

 will have a rough resemblance to a cart wheel with the 

 hub removed. The vacant area In the center contains 

 the polyp's stomach. When full grown the soft tissues 

 are an olive brown, and with its expanded tentacles 

 looks like a tiny flower. If It should be a coralllte of a 

 branched coral, a bud will eventually appear on Its side 

 and the growth of an additional cup will take place. 

 These growths will proceed until the enlarging coral 

 branches out by further budding or by the division of 

 the individuals. Growth is falrly^rapld. Branch corals 

 will grow seven or more Inches In a year, and the brain 

 coral has been known to attain to an Inch or double Its 

 size in that time. Yet the reefs that they compose do 



