62 ANTHOZOA. 



size, being the fewness of the tentacles, which at first 

 are only about twelve in number. 



The Mushroom Corals (Fungice)* are so called on ac- 

 count of a striking resemblance between the arrangement 

 of the stony laminae upon the upper surface of their frame- 

 work and the gills of a mushroom (Fig. 42). This, however, 

 is but the skeleton, and though it is a very pretty object, 

 those who are acquainted with it alone can form from it 

 but a very poor idea of the living animal. When removed 

 from its native element, the violence at first causes the 

 soft living flesh to contract so forcibly that scarcely any 

 difference is perceptible between it and the dry skeleton, 

 nor is any alteration at once manifest on putting it into 

 salt water. But let it recover its confidence, its equanimity, 

 then a pellucid gelatinous flesh will be seen emerging 

 from between the plates, from which arise exquisitely 

 formed and coloured tentacles fringing the surface, across 

 which stretches the mouth, resembling a slit with white 

 plaited lips, like the orifice of a cowrie shell. 



FlG. 42. FUNGIAo 



* Fungus, a mushroom. 



