42 



CORALS. 



from which new rivers would descend to fertilize another region 

 of the globe. 



The Corals (Corattium}* properly so-called (Fig. 36), have their central 

 axis, which supports the external living flesh, solid, without cells for the 

 lodgment of the Polypes, and variously branched. As a well-known example 

 of this tribe of Zoophytes, we may select for description the common red coral 

 (Corallium rubruui), a branch of which is represented in our figure. The 



36. RED CORAL. 



FIG. 37. Isis. 



red coral is principally obtained from the Mediterranean : when growing at 

 the bottom of the sea, it consists of short branched stems encrusted with the 

 living flesh, whereby the central axis is produced, and which at intervals is 

 studded with the flower-like mouths that give it nourishment. The central 

 stem or " polypary," as the stony axis is called, is of extreme hardness, and 

 susceptible of a high polish, to which circumstance, together with its brilliant 

 crimson hue, the estimation in which it is held is principally owing. The 

 fishery for coral is carried on in boats. Each boat contains at least three 

 men, who are provided with a massive wooden cross, to whose equal arms are 

 attached strong hempen nets. A large stone placed upon the centre of the 

 apparatus sinks it to the bottom, frequently to the depth of two hundred or 

 three hundred feet. While one of the fishermen is employed in alternately 

 raising and letting fall the machine, bumping the ground to break the coral 

 stems, the others row the boat, so as to sweep over a certain space. After a 

 time the whole is drawn up, and the fragments of coral which have been 

 retained by the meshes of the net are carefully removed. 



* Corallum, coral. 



