ZOOPHYTES. 263 



acid, an effervescence is equally produced ; but after all the so- 

 luble part is taken up, there remains a membrane which retains 

 completely the original shape of the madrepore. The substance 

 taken up is pure lime. Hence this madrepore is composed of 

 carbonate of lime, and a membranaceous substance which, as in 

 mother-of-pearl shells, retains the figure of the madrepore. The 

 following zoophytes yield nearly the same results : 



Madrepora fascicularis. 



Millepora cellulosa. 



fascialis. 



truncata. 



Iris hippuris. 



The following substances, analyzed by Merat-Guillot, belong 

 to this class from their composition, though it is difficult to say 

 what are the species of zoophytes which were analyzed. By red 

 coral he probably meant the Gorgonia nobilis, though that sub- 

 stance is known, from Hatchett's analysis, to contain also some 

 phosphate. 



Articulated 

 White Coral. Red Coral. Coralline. 



Carbonate of lime, . 50 . 53-5 . 49 

 Animal matter, . 50 . 46-5 . 51 



100 100-0 100* 



3. When the Madrepora potymorpha is steeped in weak nitric 

 acid, its shape continues unchanged ; there remaining a tough 

 membranaceous substance of a white colour and opaque, filled 

 with a transparent jelly. "The acid solution yields a slight pre- 

 cipitate of phosphate of lime when treated with ammonia, and 

 carbonate of ammonia throws down a copious precipitate of car- 

 bonate of lime. It is composed, therefore, of animal substance, 

 partly in the state of jelly, partly in that of membrane, and har- 

 dened by carbonate of lime together with a little phosphate of 

 lime. 



Flustra foliacea, treated in the same manner, left a finely re- 

 ticulated membrane, which possessed the properties of coagulated 

 albumen. The solution contained a little phosphate of lime, and 

 yielded abundance of carbonate of lime when treated with the 

 alkaline carbonates. The Corallina opuntia, treated in the same 



* Merat-Guillot, Ann. de Chim. xxxiv. 71. 



