598 Badiata. 



the sea by animals called polyps, or, to use the Latin and 

 now established term, polypi. The whole form a living 

 mass, or polypidom, all the polypi in which are united 

 under one skin, and have one common stomach. Each 

 of these polypi resides in a distinct cell; the}^ are generally 

 dormant during winter, and like the blossoms of plants, 

 push forth buds, and expand in the summer season. The 

 stems and branches of the Gorgonise, which are of a some- 

 what horny and flexible nature, may be considered as the 

 true skeletons of the nests of the sea-polypi, being covered 

 with a fleshy or pulpy substance, the surface of which is 

 porous. These pores are the mouths or openings of the 

 cells, in which the polypi are lodged ; and it is the 

 number, disposition, and varied structure of these, in ad- 

 dition to the general aspect of the plant-like nest of 

 habitations, that constitute the distinguishing difference 

 of the species. 



The bone of the Eed Coral constitutes that beautiful 

 and much esteemed production, the true or red coral of 

 the jewellers. It is found in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, 

 and Eed Sea, and appears to be nowhere more abundant 

 than in the seas about Marseilles, Corsica, Sicily, the 

 coasts of Africa, and in the vicinity of Barbary ; where 

 the Coral fisheries are carried on with great spirit, and 

 prove very lucrative. It is equal in hardness and dura- 

 bility to the most compact marble ; and these qualities, 

 in addition to its beautiful texture and colour, have 

 rendered it valuable in all ages. Thus in the book of 

 Job, " No mention shall be made of corals, or of pearls ; 

 for the price of wisdom is above rubies." 



Travellers in tropical lands often speak of the exqui- 

 site beauty of the coral beds that lie at the bottom of 

 the ocean. The water is so clear in those regions, that 

 these wonderful formations are clearly visible at a great 

 depth, growing like stony forests, mingled with waving 

 seaweeds of many brilliant dyes. 



The mode of obtaining Coral is by a very simple ma- 

 chine, consisting of two strong bars of wood or iron, tied 

 across each other, with a weight suspending from their 

 centre of union. Each of the bars is loosely surrounded, 

 throughout its whole length, with twisted hemp ; and, at 



