NATURAL HISTORY. 



499 



to conclude, that the ferruginous 

 substance is phosphate of iron, 

 that is, the oxide of iroo iinitefl 

 with phosphoric acid, which it is 

 well knowQ ^ives the red colouc 

 to the blood of animals. The 

 phosphate of iron therefore, which 

 in animals has the proijeity of 

 giving the lively red colour to the 

 blood, and even the vermilion hue 

 to the skin, serves to colour the 

 solid part of coral, and give it the 

 brilliant sanguineous tinge. 



The first variety, as 1 have re- 

 marked, is esteemed the most per- 

 fect ; it is more solid tlian the other 

 kinds, of a finer and more compact 

 textute, and hence takes a higher 

 polish. In tiie other kinds, in 

 proportion as the bright colour 

 fades, the>e qualities gradually de- 

 crease, so that the white sort, 

 which is the softest and lightest, 

 is very unfit to be wrought, and 

 takes but a trifling polish. The 

 deficiency in the quantity of phos- 

 phate of iron diminishes the colour, 

 and at the same time decreases the 

 density of its texture ; or perhaps 

 the light texture by its porosity 

 permits the v.ater to wash away 

 the colouring matter, and con>e- 

 quently that which would tend to 

 bring it to perfect maturity. 



To this inay be attributed the 

 peculiarities of some corals, in 

 which the trunk is red, and the 

 branches white ; or the branches 

 red within, and externally white ; 

 or the brandies half white a»d half 

 red, which is often seen in coralli- 

 genous productions ; but the red 

 part always proves of firmer texture 

 than the others. 



While naturalists have been em- 

 ployed in investigating the origin 

 of coral, and the nature of its 

 growth, each applying it to dif- 



ferent purposes; the fair sex, oc- 

 cupied by the natural desire o<f 

 pleasing, have been much indebted 

 to the brilliant colour 3n\d. fine 

 lustre of this n^arine production. 

 Coral formed into beads is worn n^ 

 an ornament of the neck and arms ; 

 and there is no do\il)t, that the 

 lively colour of coral gives addi- 

 tional grace to a fine face and 

 beautiful complexion, which can- 

 not be obtained by the use of the 

 precious stones, so that these can 

 only be considered as ornameats 

 of luxury and show. The ladies, 

 who are always led away by 

 fashion, because they corisider it 

 as depending on the existing taste 

 of the other sex, laid aside this 

 beautiful ornament, to load them- 

 selves with jewels brought from 

 distant countries. Thus coral gave 

 place to other ornaments, tlie rage 

 of pleasing being only gratified by 

 variety. Works of amber hjiMe 

 latterly obtained a very high esti- 

 mation from the softness of its 

 substance and its transparency. 



This substance, which for a time 

 was in high repute, and which the 

 discovery of the precious stones 

 had almost thrown into oblivion 

 lujs of late, by the accustomed 

 versatility of capricious fashion, 

 recovered its former value, and 

 has rivalled in pi ice even the or- 

 naments composed of jewels. 



When the value of female onria- 

 ments shall depend no longer on 

 the price or scarcity, but on the 

 effect they produce on fclie com- 

 plexion, all will yield to the natural 

 beauty of coral. Most « ertainly 

 Galatea, emerging from the ocean, 

 would select from the numerous 

 offerings of the nymphs the lucid 

 branches of the coral to adorn her- 

 self with, which would alone as- 



2 K 2 similate 



