ANTHOZOA. 



51 



are required constructed upon a larger scale, it be- 

 comes needful that the whole fobric should be sup- 

 ported upon some internal framework or scafibldino-, 

 of ^ a nature sufficiently firm and unyielding to sus- 

 tain the general body, and thus allow full room for 

 the expansion of the flower-like Polypes. In a vast 

 majority of instances, therefore, the common sub- 

 stance of these creatures has the power of depositing 

 eartliy particles derived from the surrounding water, 

 wherewith it builds a massive skeleton, presentino; 

 upon its surfoce innumerable little pits or cells 

 wherein the Polypes lodge. Such are 



The Madrepores, whose skeletons form the ornaments 

 of oiu- cabinets, and of which a small fragment is deline- 

 ated in the accompanying engraving (Fig. 34). 



^ i JJ 4^ 



Fig. 34. 



MADREPORE. 



Many of these stony masses form branching clusters of 

 exceeding elegance, nor is om^ admiration at all abated 

 when we institute a closer examination of their structiu-e. 

 Take any one of all the milHon cells which crowd its 

 sui'face, each tiny orifice in which each individual Polype 

 of the countless host resides is in itself a microscopic 

 gem, matchless for the regularity and beauty of its ar- 

 rangement, and the mathematical precision with which it 



D 2 



