366 SUBKLNGJXXM: CCELE^TEEATA. 



Fig. It5%. Fig. U53. 



Single Anthozoan or Polyp 

 of Coralfaum rubn/.m. 

 Red Coral magnified. 



Single Polyp magnified. 

 Tentacles closed and open. 



Fig. 



within their reach. Everything nutritive is at once grasped 

 and tumbled into the stomach, and the indigestible portions 

 ejected by the same oral orifice. 



The growth of a polypidom, as the "sea-fan," is briefly 

 this: An egg produces an embryo that swims freely till, 

 attaching itself to some substance, it develops into a mature 

 animal which, by budding, becomes two individuals, united 

 by a leathery integument (ccenosarc). Be- 

 peated buddings produce a colony, each one 

 acting independently, so far as gathering and 

 digesting food is concerned, yet all joined by 

 the investing ccenosarc, with its anastomosing 

 canals. Meanwhile the coenosarc, like the 

 bark of a tree, is secreting on its inner surface 

 a horny substance that builds up an internal 

 stem or skeleton of sclerolasic coral. While 

 living, the fleshy exterior conceals the stony 

 frame, but when taken from the water the 

 polyp-cells shrivel up and lay bare the coral, 

 the hardened coenosarc exhibiting all varieties 

 of color, according to the species. At certain 

 times, eggs are developed by different members of the com- 

 munity to swim away and found new colonies. 



Coralfium rvbrum, 

 Red Coral. 



