CORALS. 129 



or all Actinm. God varies his productions by giving us a 

 Zoophyte partaking some of the characters of each. 



Corcds, 



(Plate III. and Plate XYll. fig. 4.) 



On seeing one of the beautiful specimens of white branch- 

 ing Madrepore, or of hemispherical Brain-stone, which are 

 brought from the South Seas, we are told that this ela- 

 borate structure is the work of minute animals existing in 

 those seas in countless myriads, and that whole islands 

 are composed of similar structures in large masses. AYe 

 are astonished at the intelligence, if we have not heard it 

 before, but find it difficult to form a clear conception of 

 the fact, or of the manner of its production. The Englisli 

 coasts afford no examples of coral reefs or rocks, excepting 

 in a fossil state ; and we can scarcely hope to see the afore- 

 said animals engaged in the process of building a coral 

 island in one of om: tanks, however large its dimensions. 

 The few^ species of Coral-forming Zoophytes which can at 

 present be brought within actual observation in a living 

 state, are so simple in construction, and so small in size, 

 that they appear almost unworthy of being considered by 

 the side of the magnificent and varied specimens brought 



K 



