C X 9I ] 
that the polypes of thefe cells have had a communi- 
cation with a fmall hole or opening into one of the 
tubes, that lie immediately under it. 
This frequent intervention of the openings of the 
fmall tubes, or their ramifications, between the fides 
of the larger ones, makes the latter appear more ir- 
regular, and not fo parallel, as in the true red coral ; 
where we find fewer flats ; and, where thofe occur, 
we may obferve it always alters the direction of the 
tubes. 
I mufl further remark to you, that many of the 
tubes of this coral appear, thro’ a magnifying glafs, 
full of fmall holes, like thole I have defcribed in the 
keratophyton ( Plate 26. Fig. G. p. 62. of my Eff'ay 
on Corallines) ; and thefe holes will appear more di- 
llindtly to you, when you examine the half tubes, 
or broken irregular ones, on the flem and great 
branches of this coral. 
Further, if you compare the tranfverfe fedtion, at 
the bafe of this coral, with a fedtion of a common 
Rattan cane, they will both appear full of holes in 
the fame regular order, and of nearly the fame dia- 
meter : whereas the tubes, on the furface of the 
flem of this coral, look as irregular as fo many holes 
pierced or eaten out by worms. 
I hope by this time our ingenious botanical friends, 
whom we could not perfuade to part with thefe beau- 
tiful fea- productions from the vegetable kingdom, 
are thoroughly convinced, that this mealy, friable, 
or calcarious covering, full of Harry cells, which we 
are fure to find covering all the recent red corals and 
keratophyta, is not a mere blight of infedts, common 
to the fea vegetables as well as land ones, which 
they have formerly infilled on j but that they will 
confiaer 
