of Corals, bfc. ^^ 



The fcarlet mealy Subflance on the Surface, magnified by 

 N°. .1 . the greateft Magnifier of WilJo?i\ Microfcope, exhi- 

 bits the Figures of hollow Croffes combined together (Ste 

 Fig. A^ Plate XXXV) 5 vvhsch, no doubt, are of fome very 

 material Ufe to this Fabrick and its Inhabitants ; though 

 vvherein, we are yet ignorant. 



The Increafe of Coral by a conflant Succefiion of Tubes 

 rifmg up, and encompafling the Trunk, and extending the 

 Branches, is very vvtll illuftrated in the Inftance of the Stem 

 and E->ranches of the Herring-bone Coralline, Plate X. where 

 at Fig. 5, the T'ubuU are magnified. But as this Coralline 

 is compofed of light fpongy and elaftic Materials, the Ca\i" 

 ties do not clofe up ; but, at the lame time the Stem grows 

 hard, it remains porous and woody, like Cane Thougli 

 in Phyfics it is unfafe, to draw general Conclufions from 

 particular Inftances, yet the Texture of the fmalf elegant. 

 White Coral, reprefented, in its natural Appearance and Size, 

 at b^ Plate XXXV. is fo agreeable to the general Tenour of 

 Nature's Procedure in the Formation of the miirine Bodies 

 already defcribed, that it would almoff induce one to think, 

 the ftony Corals, for the mofi: part, are produced in like man- 

 ner ; that is, that they are compofed of Tubes, formed by 

 Animals of the Polype Kind. 



The Coral above-mentioned is fairly reprefented, as it ap- 

 pears magnified at B ; in which Figure we may diflincffly 

 trace the Tubes, from the Bafe up the Outftde of the Branches : 

 And, on the Infick^ their Openings are as confpicuous. 



For this curious Specimen, with that of the Red Cora}, 

 and an Opportunity of examining many rare Sponges, Co- 

 rals, and Lithophyta^ together with his kind Affiffance in this 

 Vi^ork, I am indebted to my much efleemed Friend Dodor 

 yohn Fothergill. 



An 



