164 FORMATION -OF CORAL REEFS. 
by a waving wreath of white or green or rose- 
colored tentacles. 
As soon as the little Coral is fairly established 
and solidly attached to the ground, it begins to 
bud. This may take place in a variety of ways, 
dividing at the top or budding from the base or 
from the sides, till the primitive animal is sur- 
rounded by a number of individuals like itself, 
of which it forms the nucleus, and which now 
begin to bud in their turn, each one surrounding 
itself with a numerous progeny, all remaining, 
however, attached to the parent. Such a com- 
munity increases till its individuals are numbered 
by millions; and I have myself counted no less 
than fourteen millions of individuals in a Coral 
mass of Porites measuring not more than twelve 
feet in diameter. The so-called Coral heads, 
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which make the foundation of a Coral wall, and 
seem by their massive character and regular form 
