in Arabia Petrasa &c, :j85' 



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 Fungm , 

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

 ingly fniall Root, being the Reverfe of the Land Muflirooin, 

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

 are obferved to preferve conftantly a certain fpecifick Form 

 in theirConfigurations : the othQY Cor all'me^o^'\QsA{o have each 

 of them their differently ^^wxtdiyiflerisks imprelTed upon them, 

 whereby they likewife may be particularly diftinguiflied. But 

 thefe only regard their Surfaces •, for, having not the leaft 

 Appearances of Roots as the Fungus and the Brain Stone feem 

 to have, they are to be confidered as certain rude Malfes 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 o/-//;^ r.gf. 

 Subftance, oxTellicule, asllliall call it; which is more thick Mad"repo'/cl 

 and fpongy near and upon the ^fterishs , than in any other 

 Part. For, if we may be allowed to offer a few Conjed:ures 

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

 the firft Offices of it are performed from thefe y^fterisks ; 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 

 in Glaffes, or like the Mouths or Suckers of the Sea Star, or 

 of the fmall floating Tolypns. But the very inftant they are 

 expofed to the Air, they become invifible, by a Power they 

 have then of contracting themfelves and retiring within the 

 Furrows of their yijlerisks. 



In the true Coral, and Ltthophyta, (to hint fomething alfo^^^ ^'^i^^^- 

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

 are not marked with ^fterisks like the Madrepores, but have 

 their little Roots ifHiing out of certain fmall Protuberances, 

 that are plentifully difperfed all over their Telliciiles ; ferving, 

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

 Cafes, to defend andfliut in their refpedive little Roots, We 



Eeeee mav 



