Gulf of St. Lawrence, ^ 



points of a dull red colour protruding from the mass. — 

 nicse, wlicn first taken out of the water, were all living, 

 moving with a rapid vibratory motion, as if distressed by 

 the change from their own to another element. They were 

 then soft, to a degree sufficient to admit of bending, and 

 the points were of a much deeper red. When touched by 

 the finger, they instantly withdrew themselves into their 

 apertures, emitting at the same time, a milk-like fluid, 

 with so much force as to indicate considerable muscular 

 power; one of them was drawn out, and appeared to be 

 attached to tlie bottom of its cavity by a fibrous root. 



Subsetjuent examination has, however, made me doubt 

 tliis last inference, and I am now of opinion, that what we 

 took for a root was the torn fragments of the animal itself, 

 as will appear probable from the following observations : — 



A piece of the coral matter was placed in nmriatic acid 

 diluted with about twice its quantity of water. The acid 

 took u|i the whole of the calcareous matter. — There 

 remained floating in tlic solution a mass of animal matter, 

 gelatinous in aijjiearance, but nevertheless possessed of 

 considerable ttiiueity. 



It rrtaiiifd in some degree its former sliaj)e, and the 

 poijit> s-till remained attached and <li>tinct, Jis iu the coral 

 stale. 



Wc could uot distinguish the structure of the animal, 

 which, perhaps, could only be perceived by means of a 

 highly magnifying power, iit a time when the iuiimal is 

 living Of wry recently dead. 



'Ihat these aninuls contain a head, muscular system, 

 and aliiiienlary canal, apjHurs nearly certain from the 

 preceding observations. I am thmfore of opinion, that 

 each of the poiult" which has been njeiMioned as having the 



