CORALS. 



vegetation, the shapes of graceful vases rear themselves amid the 

 fairy scene, festooned with coral branchlets, and there are solid 

 hemispheres resembling domes bedecked with Polype stars of 

 purple and of emerald green, huge fans expand on every side, 

 and Madrepores are crowded round in turfy clumps to variegate 



FIG. 31. MADREPORES. 



the prospect. Words, however extravagant they may appear, can 

 convey no exaggerated impression of such a scene, for fancy's work 

 could never be more strangely beautiful. It is not, however, in 

 their luxuriance of growth that we must introduce the Anthozoa 

 to the contemplation of the student ; we must select a few among 

 the multitude for special study. 



The Alcyons (Alcyonium). Every stroller upon the beach must fre- 

 quently have found, cast up by the retiring waves, rude shapeless lumps of 

 leathery consistence, known by the vulgar as Cow's paps or Dead marts fingers 

 names which, however characteristic, are by no means calculated to invite 

 attention. Nevertheless, on placing one of these misshapen masses in ajar 

 of clear sea-water, it will soon present a spectacle that must command our 

 admiration. Slowly the unsightly fabric swells, as though by imbibing the 

 water in which it is immersed, and as it dilates to a larger and still larger size, 

 assumes a transparency that it did not possess before. When fully expanded, 

 little pits or cells appear upon its surface, and from each of these there issues 

 forth a living flower, for such it seems, which, gradually expanding till it has 

 attained its full development, begins to fish for prey in the surrounding water 

 by means of the petal-like tentacles placed around its mouth. The food thus 



