408 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



If the reader will take up a branch of the ordinary Coral of 

 commerce, he will see that it is slightly grooved or fluted through- 

 out its extent, and that its surface is studded with little projec- 

 tions having star-like disks. Now, if this piece of Coral could be 

 again clothed with the living creature by which it was deposited, 

 we should see a beautiful and a wonderful sight. Next to the 

 stony core lie a series of longitudinal vessels, each vessel corre- 

 sponding with a groove, and above them lies a confused mass of 

 irregular vessels communicating with each other. At intervals 

 there arise the lovely flowerets of the Coral, the bodies being 

 bright rose-color, and their arms pure white. These arms or ten- 

 tacles are in ceaseless motion, and the aspect of a large and healthy 

 branch of coral is imposingly beautiful. 



The animal has the power of depositing certain minute calcare- 

 ous particles, commonly called spicules, which are always of re- 

 markable forms, and are different in the various species of coral. 

 In the common red Coral they are nearly cylindrical, and armed 

 with projecting knobs covered with angular spikes. These spi- 

 cules are then bound together by a red cement, and thus the 

 Coral is formed, the fluted branches being deposited under the 

 longitudinal vessels, and the raised projections under the flower- 

 ets of the polype. To see the Coral in full vigor it is necessary 

 to visit the spots where it grows, as it dies almost immediately 

 after being taken out of' the water, and even if transferred with 

 great care to a vessel, is sure to die in a very short time. After 

 death, the whole of the bark dries up and fades away, so that it 

 crumbles into powder at a touch, and can be removed by merely 

 rubbing the Coral between the fingers. 



Several of the more curious species of Corals and Madrepores 

 are to be seen upon the large illustration, which represents a por- 

 tion of sea-bed beset with these beautiful zoophytes. 



In the upper left-hand corner is the common Eed Coeal of 

 commerce, which has been already mentioned, and in the upper 

 centre is a clustered branch of the White Cobal, which is so 

 much used as a drawing-room ornament when placed under a 

 glass shade. In the upper right-hand corner may be seen a sin- 

 gular group of zoophytes with curved stems and flower-like heads. 

 This is the Green Clavellaria {Clavellaria viridis), one of the 

 most striking examples of the genus. 



The Green Clavellaria is very common on the Isle of Vaniko- 



