C 455 ] 
through which thefe infedts went forth. Thefe holes 
correfpond with thofe little cavities or cells, which 
are partly in the bark, and partly upon the lubflance 
of the coral ; and thefe cavities are the niches, which 
the infedts inhabit. In the tubes, which he had per- 
ceived, are contained the organs of the animal ; the 
glandules are the extremities of his feet, and the 
whole contains the liquor or milk of coral, which is 
the blood and juices of the animal. When he prefs’d 
this little elevation with his nails, the inteftines and 
whole body of the infedt came out mix'd together, 
and refembled the thick juice funifh’d by the fcba- 
ceous glands of the fkin. He faw, that the animal, 
when it wanted to come forth from its niche, forced 
the fphindter at its entrance, and gave it an appearance 
like a ftar with white, yellow, or red rays. When 
the infedt comes out of its hole without expanding 
itfelf, the feet and body of it form the white appear- 
ance, oblerved by Marfigli but being come forth, 
and expanded, it forms what that gentleman and our 
author took for the petals of the flowers of coral, 
the calyx of this fuppofed flower being the body of 
the animal protruded from its cell. The milk be- 
fore-mention’d is the blood and natural juice of the 
infedt, and is more or lefs abundant in proportion to 
its health and vigour. When thefe infedts are dead, 
they corrupt, and communicate to the water the 
fmell of putrid fifh. 
The fubflance of coral, by a chemical analyfls, 
fcarce furnifhes either oil, fait, or phlegm : live co- 
ral with its bark furnifhes about a fortieth part of 
its weight in thefe ; but the bark of coral alone, in 
which are contain’d thefe animals^ affords a fixth 
part. 
