Articulated Corallines. 47 



be plainly feen. C, is a crofs Se6lion of this Piece, to fhew 

 the internal Figure and Difpofition of tlie Cells. 



The Joints of the Coralline rife in a dichotomous Order ; 

 that is, by a conftant progrefTive Divilion into two Parts, 

 and are connedled together by fhort TiibuU of the fame Kind 

 with thofe they took their Rife from. 



Thefe Tubes in the Water are exeeding pliable, which 

 make them move fo freely, without breaking in the violent 

 Agitations of the Sea. 



The Shape of the Cells is not always of a Lozenge Fi- 

 gure : Sometimes we find them arched at Top, as at Z) ; 

 and fometimes of the Shape of a CofKn, as feme of the upper 

 Cells at B, 



When this Coralline has lain expofed for fome time on the 

 Shore, it grows very hard, and white ; and the Partitions 

 between the Cells become thinner and more diftindt, as at 

 Fig. B. 



Though the following Corallines differ in their Size, and 

 Form of their Ceils, and fome other Particulars, as their 

 tubulous Roots ; yet as they anfwer the general Definition 

 of this Clafs, and feem to follow in the Order of Nature, I 

 have connefled them together : That we may perceive the 

 Pores, or Cells of this Clafs the more diftindly, it is necelTary 

 they fhould be viewed immediately on their being taken out 

 of the Sea ; for as they dry, the cretaceous or coralline Mat- 

 ter fhrinks, and unites the pore-like Cells on the Surface, 

 fcarcely to be diftinguifhed from a poliilied Superficies, with- 

 out the Help of the very befl Glaffes, 



2 N^ 2. 



