144 POPULAR HISTORY OP THE AQUARIUM. 



attachment^ yet that in the young state they are fixed some- 

 times to rocks^ and frequently to the dead remains of one 

 of their own species. In this state, they grow upon a foot- 

 stalk, and generally remain attached till they acquire the 

 size of nearly an inch in diameter, when they separate at the 

 top of the peduncle. At this time, the Coral, when divested 

 of the fleshy part, shows a circular opening underneath, 

 through which the radiating plates of the upper surface are 

 visible. In a short time, a deposit of Coral-matter takes 

 place, which cicatrizes at the opening ; the marks of which, 

 however, can be traced for a considerable time : at length, 

 the increase of this deposit, which continues with the 

 growth of the animal, entirely obliterates all appearance of 

 it. It will not appear surprising that this circumstance 

 should have remained hitherto unnoticed, when it is recol- 

 lected that it has very rarely occurred to Naturalists to ^dsit 

 the places of their growth ; and that to general collectors, 

 the smaller specimens would appear hardly worth the trou- 

 ble of preserving and bringing home. 



"The sheltered situations in which ih^Fungice are found 

 are peculiarly well adapted to their nature, as they would 

 be liable to injury if they were exposed to the full force of 

 a stormy sea ; and the circumstance of their being attached 



