MADREPORES. 



107 



polyps, which make it 

 their common dwelling, 

 come forth at pleasure, 

 like so many flowers. 



The shortness and 

 hardness of coral is well 

 known, and its conse- 

 quent adaptation to bear 

 the action of the water. 

 But other instances ap- 

 pear in which branches, 

 secreted by a similar 

 process, are of consider- 

 able length, and would 

 thus be liable to be easily 

 broken. Here then we 



THE RED CORAL. 



GORGONIA PUSTULOSA. 



Two branches showing the gelatinous covering ; in the third, the flexible 

 horny stems appear. 



