

THE ASTREA. 



753 



Another specimen, weighing six pounds, has been taken in a similar manner between 

 the islands of Rum and Eig. As may be seen from the illustration, the corallium 

 resembles a massive, thickly-branched tree. The individual corals are about half an 

 inch in height and the same in diameter. 



On the right hand of the illustration is seen a coral that has attained a singularly 

 tree-like form, and, in consequence of this structure, has obtained the appropriate 

 name of Dendrophyllia. 



The regular branched form of this coral can be seen by reference to the illustration, 

 together with the manner in which the individuals are set on their common stem. The 

 cells are rather deep, and the animals possess tentacles which are cleft longitudinally. 

 It is a native of the hotter seas. 



DEVONSHIRE CUP-CORAL. Gary ophy Ilia Smlthll. TUFT-CQR\L.-Lophophella prolifera. 



(With side buds.) ENDIVE-CORAL. Euphyllia pavonia. JR.EE-COR\L. Dendrophyllia algrtsctm*. 

 DEVONSHIRE CUP-CORAL. (And skeleton.) 



ON the accompanying illustration we have some examples of those beings which 

 we call Madrepores. 



In the genus MADREPORA the animals are rather short, with twelve simple tentacles. 

 The cells are deep, irregularly arranged upon the surface, and are crowded together 

 towards the tips of the corallium, though they are scattered rather widely at its base. 

 The cells are nearly cylindrical in their general shape and project outwards from a 

 centre, something like the grains on an ear of wheat. 



The genus Echinopora is distinguished by the peculiar arrangement of the cells, 

 which are set only upon the upper surface of the coral. They are boldly radiated and 

 rather irregular. All the true Madrepore inhabit the hot seas, and are most plentiful 

 under the tropics. 



In the lower left-hand corner is seen a specimen of the genus ASTRVEA, so called 

 because the animals are sown over its surface like stars in the heavens. The cells 

 are decidedly short, and the tentacles few in number. The genus is a very large 

 one, including many recent and fossil specimens, many of which are familiar to us in 

 the polished stones of which mantelpieces and other domestic ornaments are made. 

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