Conclusion. loi 



That many, if not all the different Species here defcribed, 

 are of this Kind, I think is inconteftable : But that Animals 

 of fo foft, fo yielding a Texture, as all the Polypes, yet 

 known, feem to be, fhould be capable of conftruding Ha- 

 bitations of a Texture fo united, hard, and with fo little Po- 

 rofity as to bear an exquiiite Polifli, perhaps may appear 

 to fome incredible. 



But what are Oyfters, and all the other Shell-fifh we are 

 acquainted with in thefe Parts of the World ? Subftances from 

 which one would as little expcd: the Solidity, and almof!: 

 everlafting Plardnefs of their Shells, as we ihould from a 

 tender pliant Polype the ftony Firmnefs of Red Coral : And 

 yet thofe Shells are the Fabric of the moft foft amd yielding 

 Bodies, -as much as the Lapidefcent Corallines and Corals 

 are conftruded by the Polypes. 



Many of the Corallines feem to confift of a fingle Tube, 

 containing a fingle Parent Animal. Every Branch emitted 

 contains an Offspring of this Parent, dependent upon it, yet 

 capable of producing its like in the Emiflion of a new 

 Branch ; and fo on, as far as the Law prefcribed to each 

 allows. 



Others confift of many fuch Tubes united, rifing up to- 

 gether, and Side by Side iacircling the deferted Tubes of 

 their Progenitors; wiiofe Exuvice become their Bafis and Sup- 

 port, as theirs mufc, in their Turn, be the Suhflratiwi of a 

 lifing Generation. 



In fbme, thefe Tubes remain empty, and a Secftion dif- 

 covers, at leaft the Veftiges of the Cavities comprefTed, as in 

 many of the Keratophyta: VVhilfl: in fome of the ftony Corals, 

 thefe Hollows are fo exa<flly filled up, as to leave no Traces 

 of tubular Cavities, except on the Outfides only \ and thefe, 



had 



