,34 S E R T ¥ L A R I A. 



lines Is formed, as we find them on oyfters and other fhell- 

 fifh, when we drag for them in deep water. Nothing can 

 explain this extraordinary and wonderful proceeding. 

 of nature io clearly, of an animal produced by fuckers 

 like a plant, as the inftance I have already given in the 

 Philosophical Tran factions, vol. 57. p. 436. of the in- 

 creafe of the cluftered Animal Flower, or Actinia fociata, 

 where the animal and its organs are large enough, with- 

 out the afliftance of a microfcope, to convince us of the 

 truth of this furprizing fact ; and yet thefe organs are to- 

 tally different from thofe of a plant. Here then we fee 

 branched animals formed as infects are, with a horny 

 fheath to cover them, which anfwers the purpofe of bones, 

 while the fofter parts are contained in the inftde. When 

 we view the different manner and various forms in which 

 thefe Sertularias grow, we fhall ftill find that,, notwith- 

 ftanding their external appearance, they all agree in the 

 general character of this genus. 



Some fend out but few and fhort tubes from their bafe, 

 and rife up into firm ft iff fingle items, growing thicker 

 and alfo broader at their bottom as they grow old ; fuch 

 as we may obferve in the Sertularia argentea, or Squirrel's- 

 tail Coralline, S. Thuja, or Bottle-bruin Coralline, S.. 

 abietina, or Sea- fir Coralline, and S. Pinafter,, or 

 Sea-pine Coralline, and many others. Some arife from 

 little tubes ramified like a fponge ; thefe enter into, 

 and compofe large ftems, as in the Sertularia an- 

 tennina, or Lobfter's-hom Coralline, and the S. Myrio- 

 phylion, or Pheafant's-tail Coralline. Some fend out 

 tubes more remote, from whence arife inorter and more 

 diftant branches,, as the Sertularia pumila, or Sea-oak 

 Coralline, and the S. geniculata, or Knotted fea-thread 

 Coralline : but the moft lingular are thofe which, from a 

 congeries of little tubes, form ftems and branches, not 

 1 unlike 



