The Mighty Deep 



the first-cousins of these dainty flower -like 

 beings, inhabiting British salt-pools, construct 

 miles and miles of coral far off in southern 

 seas. 



Some few even among coral polyps live 

 individual lives, but the greater number follow 

 the community-system. This must always be 

 looked upon as an inferior way of existence. 



The most usual way in which polyps increase 

 is by ''budding" — not unlike the growth of a 

 plant by buds. A small lump appears on one 

 side of the parent, which increases fast in size, 

 develops a mouth and tentacles, and by-and-by 

 gives birth itself to other buds. The increase 

 of numbers is enormous. One polyp may 

 produce in a short time thousands or even 

 tens of thousands of descendants. 



But in the case of coral-polyps the children 

 do not leave the parents or go out into the 

 world. They cling to the old stock; they partake 

 of the united family-life ; and each little mouth 

 and stomach works for the benefit of all the 

 little stomachs of the whole community. 



Some polyps, instead of budding like a plant, 

 increase by division. One polyp separates into 

 two parts, each of which becomes a full-grown 

 animal ; and each then divides anew ; this plan 



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