74 



CORALLINES. 



is erect, straight, cylindrical, of a clear yellowish 

 horn colour, irregularly branched or undivided, and 

 attaining the height of eight inches. The branches, 

 when dried, resemble the antennae of a lobster. 

 They are exceedingly like the primary shoot, equally 

 furnished with hair-like branchlets, and arranged 

 in numerous whorls. They carry the polyp cells, 

 which are distinct and small, with entire rims, and 

 divided from each other by a 

 joint. 



Thus far we have traced 

 a very remarkable structure 

 of microscopic beings. We 

 have seen in several instances 

 a series of cells, each one the 

 habitation of a polyp, and 

 having often a marked pecu- 

 liarity of form, arranged in 

 exact but varied order about 

 the central stem. Another 

 wonder now demands especial 

 notice ; for a living thread 

 runs through not only the 

 stem of every coralline, but 

 also every branch, constituting 

 in fact, of the whole struc- 

 ture, one living animal. The 

 polyps are merely the active 

 auxiliaries to its existence 

 and support. It used to be said that the jackal was 



ANTENULARIA RAMOS A. 



