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In the fifth chapter are exhibited the definition, 
etymology, colours, and different fizes of corals, and 
of the infedts inhabiting therein. 
The fixth chapter fliews us the places, where they 
fifh for coral, and the manner of fifhing for it. 
In the feventh chapter we have the manner of 
working upon, and of polifhing coral, and the com- 
merce therewith. 
The eighth, ninth, and tenth chapters give us the 
chemical preparations of coral, its virtues and ufes in 
medicine, when varioufly prepared. 
The fubjedts of the eight differtations of the fe- 
cond part of this work are the feveral fpecies of ver- 
micular tubes found in the fea, the madrepores, 
millepores, lithophytons, corallines, fponges, the va- 
rious fhell-fifh, which inhabit the fea without change- 
ing their place, and the formation and mechanifmof 
thefe feveral fubftances. 
This then is the general fcope of our author ; and 
though every part of his work deferves to be con- 
fidered, I muff, upon account of the time ufually 
allowed to works of this nature, confine myfelf to 
fuch parts only, as feem moil to merit the attention 
of the Royal Society. 
It had been long the received opinion, that coral 
was foft in the fea, and was harden’d by the air upon 
taking it out of the water ; and our learned Mr. Boyle 
was not willing to quit this opinion. But as experi- 
ments are the only way of affuring ourfelves of the 
truth, Boccone, for this purpofe, went to fea in one 
of the coral -fifhers veflels, and by plunging his arm 
into the water had an opportunity of examining the 
coral, as they were filhing it up, before it came 
L 1 1 into 
