136 ^ Treatise 
Authors who have told us that it grows in the Me- 
diterranean, have miftalcen for it a Species of Ma- 
drepora. The Count de Marjigli , in the many Times 
he was prefent at the Coral-Fifhery, met with no 
white Coral. In fhort, as Branches are found partly 
white and partly red, may we not fuppofe that all 
Coral is naturally of a red Colour, and that it 
never appears of any other, but when it is fome- 
how vitiated, or becoming dry and deflitute of 
its Juice with Age turns white? Which, however, 
I fhall not pofitively aflert, before a fufficient Num- 
ber of Obfervations have confirmed the Truth. 
Neverthelefs, the Count de Marftgli is of the fame 
Opinion in Regard of brown Coral, as alfo of the 
yellowifli or afh-coloured, which he fuppofes to be 
nothing but broken Coral Plants depofited a long 
Time in the Mud at the Bottom of the Sea. White 
Goral is not mentioned either by Diofcorides or 
Galen ; whence it feems to have been a Stranger to 
them. 
It has the fame Virtues afcribed to it as red 
Coral, but weaker. They are frequently prefcribed 
together. 
It is doubtful whether any true black Coral is to 
be met with, (viz.) Coral with a flony, denfe, hard 
Subfiance, and a black fhining Colour, like black 
Marble. At leafl, I could never find fuch either 
in the Shops, or among Lapidaries ; what is there 
given out for it, being nothing but Trunks or 
Branches of a marine Plant, which is called Li - 
thophyton nigrum , arbor eum , Inft. R. H. 574. Co- 
rallum nigrum , C. B. P. 366. Corallum nigrum , five 
Antipathes , J. B. 3. 804. the Subfiance of which 
is like Horn, denfe, hard, not eafily broken, and 
covered with a Bark which is fibrous and fome- 
times refembing Tartar. It is eafily diflinguifhed 
from Coral, becaufe it burns in the Fire like Horn, 
and- 
