[ !04 ] ' 
at the foot, or bottom, and fwell up a little (Fig. K ,) ; 
and, in this cafe, we very well difcern an inward 
cavity in them, the upper part of which becomes 
uneven by eight wrinkles (Fig. L,), but is not open 
as yet. Shut up within this cavity the fetus of the 
polypus remains, contracted within itfelf, and, as it 
were, without form. In due time the polypus grows 
ripe, and, as it were, adult ; and then, the upper part 
(Fig. I. s } /, s,) opening, it comes forth properly 
extended (A 7 ". and thus furnifhes the coral with 
nutriment. 
§ 35. While the firft cellule is (hut up, ( K .) or 
the egg of the coral is in its fubftance, we do not 
find any one hard part in it like bone or marble ; it 
is all foft : but afterwards, when the cellule opens, 
we begin to obferve fome hard lamella ; and when it 
is grown bigger, and arrived at the height of about 
a line and half (Fig. O.), it widens at bottom, (Fig. 
H. «,) and at the top, [H. a ,) and grows narrower 
in the middle, ( H ’. o,) afluming the proper confift- 
' ence and hardnefs of coral. And as this grows, (H.) 
the polypi are multiplied, and new branches of coral 
are formed. 
§ 36. Here then we fee the vegetation of a plant, 
and the propagation of an animal. It is fnbmitted 
to the learned to decide at prefent, whether ti e coral 
belongs to one of thefe kingdoms rather than to the 
other; or whether, with greater juftice, it deferves 
an intermediate place. 
Defcription 
