140 DESCRIPTION OF CORALS. 
bably sprung from that source, and as it exhibited six stars imperfectly formed 
with respect to the lamellz and boundaries, and was surrounded by a narrow 
flim or base-lamina traversed by tubercles, the first rudiments of additional stars, 
it proved clearly that before any one of the polypes had fully constructed its 
own domicile, or had arrived at maturity, the work of developing others was in 
active progress. The portion of a larger group represented in Tab. I. fig. 5. 
exhibited an advanced state, the stars which constituted the general surface being 
perfectly defined, and the margins sharp, though without any separating struc- 
ture ; the terminal cups, relatively deep, were also lined by well-formed lamelle, 
broad and narrow plates alternating regularly, and the latter occasionally uniting 
to the intermediate broader ones. Around the margin of the patch, as shown 
in the figure, were stars variously advanced towards maturity, the structures 
nearest those perfected being most complete; while without this belt was a 
narrow band of the base-lamina more or less traversed by rows of tubercles, the 
rudiments, as before mentioned, of lamelle, regular passages being displayed 
from continuous plates to interrupted ridges, and thence to single tubercles. 
In other specimens additional stages towards maturity were displayed, the la- 
mellz attaining their full number and dimensions ; the interspaces between ad- 
jacent stars, particularly at the angles or smallest sides, also increasing, but not 
precisely according to the size of the mass, the radiation having been sometimes 
greatest in smaller specimens ; and the interpolated young stars becoming nume- 
rous where the divergence in the old lamella-columns had been most consider- 
able. Figure 5 represents what was considered to be a mature state; and it 
exhibits likewise additional intermediate stars. To what extent the coral grew 
after it had attained this condition, no information was obtained. Mr. Bower- 
bank states that a specimen in his possession 37 inches long and 2 inches wide, 
was 34 inches in height* ; and the greatest vertical dimension in the series sub- 
mitted to examination was 2 inches | line, the diameter at the base of that por- 
tion being | inch 2 lines, and at the widest part more than 2 inches ; but neither 
of those specimens gave apparently the full size. Of the changes dependent upon 
what might be regarded as the limits of growth, the information obtained was 
also not satisfactory. In Mr. Edwards’s cabinet is a fragment about 15 inch 
in width and 1 inch in height from the smooth base-surface. The exterior ex- 
hibited not the least signs of abrasion, but the terminal cups were nearly filled 
up over the whole surface, and the structure of the stars was frequently in- 
* Mag. Nat. Hist. New Series, vol. iv. p. 26, 1840. 
