140 SOME WONDERS OF THE SEA. 



Just on its right is a half-extended polype, and below is 

 one which is just beginning to protrude its arms. The 

 rounded projections with their star-like radiations show 

 the position of other polypes which have withdrawn 

 themselves into the general envelope. 

 As in the common red Coral the general envelope is 



CORAL POLYPES. 



scarlet, and the polypes are snowy white, the extreme 

 beauty of the living creature can be easily imagined. 



The whole life-history of the Coral is singularly 

 interesting, dating from the day when it swims freely 

 through the water in search of a favourable locality, to 

 the time when it has settled down and developed into 



