* 4& M A I> R E P O R A, 



By Madrepore Corals, we mean fuch Corals as have 

 their cells difpofed in a radiated form, like ftars. 



Imperatus was the firft who had any idea of their be- 

 longing to the animal kingdom : this hint he took from 

 the obfervations he had made at feveral times on the Ma- 

 drepora ramea > or great branched Cinamon Coral, which 

 at length fully confirmed his opinion. 



Rumphius defcribes the animal of the Fundus Saxeus, 

 orMadrepora Fungites Linn, fo diftindtly, that there re- 

 mains no doubt but that he faw it very clearly. He fays,, 

 while it is alive in the fea, it is covered with a thick vifcid 

 matter, like ftarch : that the more elevated folds or plaits 

 have borders like the denticulated edges of needlework 

 lace : that thefe are covered with innumerable oblong ve- 

 fides, formed of the fame gelatinous fubftance, which, 

 appear alive under water, and may be obferved to move 

 like an infect : that as foon as the Coral was taken out of 

 the fea, and expofed to the air, all the mucous part, with, 

 the little veficles, mrunk in between the erect little plates,, 

 or lamella?, and difappeared ; and, in a fhort time, like 

 the Medufe, or Sea Jellies, melted away, leaving behind 

 them a moil difagreeable fetid fmell ; fo that it is clear 

 from hence that he, before any of the late difcoveries,, 

 was acquainted with the. animal nature of the Madrepores^. 

 Ikiides,, he has plainly told us, that not only the feveral 

 Corals of the Eaft Indies, but alfo all the other Zoophytes 

 there, when they are frefh, are poffeffed by a gelatinous 

 animal of a, rimy nature. 



Dr. Peyfonell afterwards confirmed thefe difcoveries,. 

 and confiders the Madrepore Corals in particular as a meec 

 aggregate, of the fhells of this animal, which he fays is a. 

 fpecies of the Urtica marina; but it is probable, he was, 

 nxiftaken in. the animal, as will appear hereafter from the 



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