76 ZO} Oy} PTE YOR ES: 
a certain breadth. In the annexed figure, a small cell between four 
polyps belonged to a young polyp, which was one of these new buds. 
The young continue enlarging, till the adult size is attained, and then 
the intervals going on to increase, other buds open. ‘The elevated 
lines, which striate radiately the spaces between the cells or stars, 
indicate what we have before stated, that the visceral lamelle are 
prolonged beyond the visceral cavity, through the interstitial spaces 
between adjoining polyps; and it is possible that the new bud pro- 
ceeds from one of these lamelle, though appearing at the middle of 
the interstitial space. 
77. When the prolate growth is attended by a widening of the 
disks, the buds, as stated, open in the widening disk. In the Mean- 
drine zoophytes (plate 8, fig. 1, and plate 14), bud follows bud, and 
the widening continues, until the disk, instead of being circular, as in 
the Astrea argus, or in the germ-polyp with which the Meandrina 
commenced, has at last a long linear form, often very flexuous, and 
contains a large number of polyp mouths; and, deneath, as many 
polyp stomachs, all communicating apparently with the same vis- 
ceral cavity, or connected with one another by a system of large 
interlamellar spaces. In the Meruline, we have folaceous corals 
illustrating well this mode of growth; and they are the analogues, in 
this division of the Astreidw, of the Echinopores, among the pre- 
ceding. ‘The lines of polyp mouths continue extending outward, 
separated by narrow lamellate ridges, and the new buds open near 
the margin of the folium, on the surface of the extending disks 
(plate 15). 
b. The length of these meandering disks, and their flexuous furca- 
tions, seem sometimes to be indefinite. Yet in other species they 
have their limits. After elongating for a while, a ridge forms across, 
and a subdivision is produced. ‘The proper Astras, with prolate 
disks, differ from the Meandrinas in this subdivision taking place 
after the opening of each new mouth in the disk, in consequence of 
which, the form may become a little oblong, but is soon restored to 
a circular shape again. ‘This is #lustrated in the following figures, 
which show the progress of external changes. 
‘The simple disk becomes oblong (fig. 36), and a new mouth opens. A 
subdivision commences (fig. 37) as growth goes on, and finally the 
disk entirely subdivides (fig. 38), and each part is surrounded by its own 
circle of tentacles. ‘This division appears to commence whenever the 
number of lamelle—which is constantly increasing—has reached the 
