CORALS. 403 



and its remains are then prepared for market. A portion 

 of the dried animal matter is usually found adhering to 

 its surface, and contains abundance of 

 spicula. This is an entirely different 

 family to the Corallines, a genus of 

 Florideous Algee, at one time be- 

 lieved to be animals, and polype-cells 

 were described by Ellis and Lamarck 

 as existing upon their outer surface ; 

 such, however, has been shown to be 

 an erroneous description, and the cal- 

 careous material existing in the form 

 of a coating of variable thickness to a 

 mass of cells evidently is of the vege- 

 table character. In the Nullapores all 

 the intercellular spaces are filled with 

 lime, so that it would appear that the 

 external surface of the cell- wall pos- 

 sesses the power of separating lime 

 from the sea-water, the crystals of 

 which take a certain definite form of 

 arrangement. These are now classed 

 among plants, Corallinacece, under the 

 scientific terms of Lithophytes, Stone ! 

 Plants, Corallines, and Nullapores. 



As we glance at the map of the world, 

 and think of the profusion of fragrant 

 vegetation and delicious food almost 

 spontaneously produced on the lovely 

 sunny islands of the broad Pacific, how 

 startling does it seem, when we are 

 told that these islands, bearing on their 

 bosoms gardens of Eden, are entirely 

 formed by the slow-growing corals, 

 which, rising up in beautiful and deli- 

 cate forms, displace the mighty ocean, 

 defy its gigantic strength, and display a shelly bosom 

 to the expanse of day ! The vegetation of the sea, cast 

 on its surface, undergoes a chemical change ; the deposit 

 from rains aids in filling up the little gaping catacomb, 

 the fowls of the air and the ocean find a resting place, 

 D D 2 



Fig. 204. Corallium 

 rubrum. 



