1 8 Natural Hiftory of 



1 received Tome Specimens of this Coralline, that were ga- 

 thered in the Month o^ April : Their Side-branches were co- 

 vered with regular Rows of Veficles flanding upright ; thefe 

 were almoft full of a yellow Subflance, like many of the other 

 Veficles. When the Coralline is in this State, the Fifhermen 

 fay they are in BlofTom. The Shape of thefe Veficles is an 

 irregular Oval, with a Tube arifmg from the Pedicle, and 

 palling up on one Side to a little above the Top of each : 

 This Tube is open at Top, and feems clofely united to the 

 Veficle. 



We muft here obrer\'e, that there is a good deal of Refem- 

 blance, in Miniature, of this Coralline to fome of the Ame- 

 rican Keratophytons, or Sea- feathers, that grow in a pennated 

 Form, and are covered with a Crufi: of regular Rows of little 

 Animals in their Cells, along the Edges of the Branches. 



The Manner likewife of this Coralline's increafmg its 

 Trunk and Branches in Bulk, by a continued Succeffion of 

 frefh 'Tiibuli arifing all round them, and adhering firmly to 

 thofe that arofe before, gives us fome Idea of the Formation 

 of Corals, that are compofed of Tubes, which, as the Animals 

 retire, are filled with a ftony Matter. For even in the Stems 

 and Trunks of this Coralline, we may obferve, that though 

 the Materials, of which it is formed, feem to be of a fpongy 

 elaftic^ature, yet the inner Tubes become firm, opaque, 

 and brittle, whilft the outward and more recent-formed 

 Tubes are thin, tender, and tranfparent. 



Fig. a-i N'. 15. Plate X. gives us the Appearance that this 

 Coralline makes in its natural State, with its fpongy Tuft of 

 Roots. 



Fig. A^ is a fmall Sprig magnified, to fhew the Tubes of 



which 



