viii Introduction. 



an Opportunity of feeing thefe difputed Beings called branched 

 Corallines, alive in Sea-water, by the Help of a very com- 

 niodious Microfcope, of Mr. Cuff's the Optician in Fleetjireety 

 which I had altered for that Purpofe ; and was fully con- 

 vinced, that thefe apparent Plants were ramified Animals, 

 in their proper Skins or Cafes, not loco-motive, but fixed to 

 Shells of Oyfters, Muffels, &€. and to Vucuss. 



The firft Coralline that occurred to me, was that which 

 is expreffed in Plate II. at N°. 3. A Part of it, as it ap- 

 peared aHve, is defcribed magnified at Letter A: This, to- 

 gether with other Proofs, that then occurred, induced me to 

 withdraw the Paper I had laid before the Royal Society ; 

 and to purfue with Attention my Enquiries concerning this 

 Subjedl ; both with a View to my own Satisfadion, as well as 

 to afford thofe, who yet doubted, the Means of ample Con- 

 vidion. 



In the Beginning o^ Jum laft, 1754, I prevailed on Mr. 

 Eh?'et, a Gentleman univerfally known to the learned Bota- 

 nifts of Europe, for his exquifite Manner of defigning and 

 painting Plants and Flowers, to accompany me to the Sea- 

 fide at Brighthelmfione, in Stiffex ; there to draw from Na- 

 ture, whatever the Microfcope prefented him of thefe extra- 

 ordinary Beings. An Account of this Journey, with his cu- 

 rious Drawings, the Royal Society have honoured with their 

 Acceptance. Here we faw, amongft others, the Coralline, 

 N^ 14. Plate IX. Letter b, with all its minute capillary 

 Branches expanded. 



Letter C, fliews one of thefe Branches magnified, as it 

 appeared in the Sea-water through the Microfcope, with irs 

 Polypes united together, repofing in their Sockets, and with 

 their Arms extended. 



We 



