THE ANTHOZOA 



of six species which are recognisable as (1) Madrepora oculaia ; 

 (2) BembophijUia ramea ; (3) Corallium rubrum ; (4) Antipathes ; 

 (5) and (6) Gorgonians. 



Theodore Tabernaemontanus extended the error and figured 

 amongst marine plants, not only the precious red coral and some 

 Gorgonians, but also an Actinian, thus taking a step backwards 

 from the position already gained by Aristotle. Similarly we find 

 Gorgonians and Corals described as plants by TournefortandFerrante 

 Imperato. All these authors seem to have been acquainted only 

 with the dry condition of Corals and Gorgonians. The first step 

 in advance was made by Paul Boccone, who, in the seventeenth 

 century, conceived the idea of accompanying the coral divers on 

 their expeditions from Messina in order to study corals in the 

 fresh condition. He showed that the branched axis which forms 

 the major part of the red coral is covered in the fresh condition 

 with a soft tissue, and he discerned in this tissue the radiate pores 

 of the retracted polyps. He combated the view that the coral 

 was a jilant, but fell into the still graver error of explaining their 

 nature to be that of a simple stony concretion. Similar investigations 

 were undertaken at a later date by the Comte de Marsilli, and by 

 an Englishman named Shaw, both of whom regarded corals as 

 plants, and their views were adopted in full by the illustrious 

 Reaumur. 



The discovery of the true nature of Corals and Gorgonians is 

 due to Jean Andre de Peyssonel, a native of Marseilles, who made 

 a number of observations on corals on the coast of Barbary, and 

 kept several forms alive in aquaria. He saw the expanded polyps, 

 and recognised their true nature, and he made some observations 

 on their anatomy: "Je fis fleurir le corail dans des vases joleins 

 d'eau de mer et j'observais que ce que nous croyions etre la fleur 

 de cette pretendue plante n'^tait, au vrai, qu'une insecte semblable 

 a une petite ortie ou poulpe. Cette insecte s'^panouit dans I'eau 

 et se ferme a I'air, ou lorsque je versais des liqueurs acides, ou 

 que je le touchais avec la main j'avais le plaisir de voir remuer les 

 pattes ou pieds de cette ortie." 



Peyssonel's observations were laid before the Academy of 

 Sciences of France in 1727, but his views were strongly opposed by 

 Reaumur, whose authority was sufficient to condemn them. It was 

 not till 1751 that they found full expression and acceptance at the 

 hands of the Royal Society of London, and were fully published 

 in London under the title of Traduction d'un article dei^ Tran- 

 sactions Philosophiques sur le Corail. In the meantime Trembley 

 had made his classical researches on Hydra, and had communicated 

 them to Reaumur, Avho in company with Bernard de Jussieu 

 repeated Trembley's observations, and discovered on the coasts 

 of Normandy living and expanded Alcyonarians, covered with 



