Veficulated Corallines. 21 



In September 1753, I received fome frefli Specimens of this 

 Coralline in Salt-water, taken up at the Nore^ near the En- 

 trance of the Thames. In thefe I obferved each of thofe 

 fmall Holes fupplied with a Veficle, and a Polype in it, in 

 the manner they are reprefented at Fig. 5, Plate XI. Thefe 

 Polypes have 8 Tentaculi or Arms ; and while the Branch 

 was in the Watch-glafs of Sea-water, on the Stage of the Mi- 

 crofcope, I could plainly diftinguifh that the internal hol- 

 low Part of the whole Coralline was filled with the Subftance 

 of the Parent Polype, which appeared to be of a tender gela- 

 tinous Nature ; and upon the leaft Extenfion or Contradtion 

 of the young Polypes, this tender flefhy Subftance was vifi- 

 bly affeded ; for each one was united to it by their lower 

 Part or Tail. 



Fig. C, was drawn from a Piece of a Branch not yet un- 

 folded ; the Ends of this are round, and the Polypes ftill in- 

 clofed in their Veficles, having not as yet arrived at Maturity. 

 Thefe Embryo Polypes were fmaller and clofer as they ap- 

 proached towards the Extremities of the young Branch. 



The Motion of the Inteftines of the young Polypes was very 

 diftinguifhable till the Water became putrid ; and then both 

 Veficles and Polypes dropped off, like blighted Bloflbms off 

 a Tree ; and the Subftance of the Parent Polype, though 

 feeming to fill the whole Cavity of the Branch before, as foon 

 as the Water became improper for its Support, fhrivelled up 

 immediately fo as fcarce to be vifible. 



N°. 1 8. Corallina procumhens caule corneo^ lo?7go, JUiforfm, ar- 

 ticulator vejiculis^ ramorutn acdllis, pedu?iculis contortis^ in- 

 Jideniibus. 



Sea-thread Coralline. 



This Coralline has very tough, pliant, and thread-like, 

 3 Stalks 



Plate Xil 



