CORALS. 145 



in the young state is a beautiful provision of Nature for 

 their preservation at that period, as from their light weight 

 when first developed, they would, if unattached, be exposed 

 to great injury even by a slight agitation of the water. 



" I have also to remark upon this fact, that the Caryo- 

 pliyllecE, more especially in their early state, when the radi- 

 ating plates are first developed, — at this time their upper 

 discs are scarcely larger than the stem, but they soon begin 

 to spread, and show indications of their characteristic form. 

 There are not unfrequently instances of smaller individuals 

 remaining fixed to large ones in a living state; and such 

 specimens are not unfrequent in a collection of Corals; 

 but in all such cases that I have seen, the younger ones are 

 attached to the under side of the old one, and I believe them 

 to be cases of accidental attachment.''^ 



Eumphius says, " The more elevated folds, or plaits, have 

 borders like the denticulated edges of needlework lace ; 

 these are covered with innumerable oblong vesicles, formed 

 of a gelatinous substance, which appear alive under water, 

 and may be observed to move like an insect.''^ 



" I observed/' says Stutchbury, " these radiating folds 

 of the animal which secrete the lamellae, and which sink 

 between them when the animal contracts itself on being 



