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I. Microfcopicd Ohjervations on ^ed Coral j In a Let^ 
ter to the Royal Sociccy from Mr, Anthony 
Van Leeuwenhoek, F. (^.5. 
• ' 
brings you (purfuantto your ow^n Rcquefi:), 
1 fome Obfervations which I made about two Years ^ ■ 
ago, concerning Red Coral, which are thefe that fol-- 
low. 
In a Letter of mine -of' the 29th of December 17 05:,, 
I acquainted .you how I had found fome fmall Parts- ef 
Blood-Corral upon a little Scollop Shell, and upon a- ■ 
piece of a little Hor'a^ or fmall Fifh fo called, and that 
-I was of Opinion, that that Corral did not grow, bdt 
was only coagulated upon the fetd Shells. 
I had forfnerly feveral times flit both in length and 
thicknefs Pieces of Blood-Corral, that were very fair and 
of a fhining Rednefs, and cut off as thin Scaley Parti- 
cles as ’twas poflible for me to do, to the end that I “ 
might difcover the V effeis in the fame ; . in doing which, 
I fancy’d to my felf, that now and thea I cou’d perceive 
Ibme very fmall Orifices 'of the faid Veffels, but they' 
were fo exceeding fmall, that I cou’d make no perfeA 
Remarks of them, tho’ I could eafily obferve, that in , 
thofe Parts that I had cut thro’ acrofsy there ran fuch 
Fibres from the Centre to the Circumference, as are 
found in'the Roots of underground Fruits ; and not- 
■ withftanding all my End'da^urs, I conMmot find any 
Pores in them, at leaftfo as to fay anything certain of. 
them ; but it feem’d to me, as if molt Paws of the Cor- 
^-al were made up of roundifh Particles, fucii as fome 
certain.. 
