GROWTH OF THE CORAL COLONY 75 



that of the Meandrincc may be assumed by other corals; and 

 as sports, or even as localised patches in otherwise normal 

 colonics : other corals may divide actively and yet form no 

 calcareous partition-walls. 



The meaning of these assumptions of an entirely foreign 



Fjg. 13. 



Example op a Colony growing as a Teee-like Growth. 

 {Madrepora.) 



method of division is somewhat difficult to understand, but 

 when an Astrcea exhibits Meandrine fission, it is usually a 

 sign that the colony is not flourishing and is in an unsuitable 

 site ; it would almost appear that the building of unnecessary 

 partition- walls was too great an effort for the unhealthy 

 zooids. 



Again, the thickness of the intervening partition between 

 two adjacent zooids is subject to endless variation, and in 



