in Arabia Petr^ea &"€. 285- 



Coralline Bodies, which frequently grow into Mafles of an ex- 

 traordinary Size, and ferve, not only for Lime, but alfo for 

 the chief Materials in the Buildings of Tor. The Fiingtcs , 

 properly fo called, is always joyned to the Rock, by a feem- 

 ingly fmall Root, being the Reverfe of the Land Mufliroom, 

 in having it's Gills placed upwards. This and the Brain- Sione 

 are obferv^ed to preferve conftantly a certain fpecifick Form 

 in theirConfigurations : the other CoraUine^oa'iQs alfo have each 

 of them their differently iiguxQa^flerisks impreifed upon them, 

 whereby they likewife may be particularly diftinguiilied. But 

 thefe only regard their Surfaces ; for, having not the leail 

 Appearances of Roots as the Fungm and the Brain Stone feem 

 to have, they are to be confidered as certain rude Maifes only 

 of this Coralline Subftance, which, at the feveral Periods of 

 their Growth, mould themfelves into the Figures of the Rocks, 

 Shells, and other Matrices, that lye within the Reach of their 

 Vegetation. 



All thefe Species are covered over with a thin glutinous 0/?^^ r.^.- 

 Subftance, ovTellicule, aslihall call it; which is more thick μΓ(Γγ€{οΪ. 

 and fpongy near and upon the AflerisL• , than in any other 

 Part. For, if we may be allowed to offer a few Conjectures 

 concerning the Method of their Vegetation, it is probable, that 

 the firft Offices of it are performed from thefe yiflerisks ; efpe- 

 cially if thofe Setts of little Fibres, which belong to them, fliould 

 prove to be, as in all Appearance they are,fo many little Roots. 

 Now thefe little Roots, if carefully attended to, while the 

 Madrepore is under Water, may be obferved to wave and ex- 

 tend themfelves like the little Filaments of Mint preferved 

 inGlaffes, or like the Mouths or Suckers of the Sea Star, or 

 of the fmall floating Tol/pz/s. But the veiy inftant they are 

 expofed to the Air, they become invillble, by a Power thev 

 have then of contrading themfelves and retiring within the 

 Furrows of their ^fterisks. 



In the true Coral, and Liibopbj//a, (to hint fomething alfo The ve^a- 

 of their Hiftory) the Method is a little different. For thefe ΪΓ^"^""' 

 are not marked with yiflerisL• like the Madrepores, but have 

 their little Roots ilfuing out of certain fmall Protuberances, 

 that are plentifully difperfed all over their Tellicules ; ferving, 

 as the Aflerisls do in the other Clafs, for fo many Valves or 

 Cafes, to defend andihut in their refpedive little Roots. We 



Eeeee may 



