water but for a little time ftagnates around them, they become dull and langt'*^ 
their every movement indicates that the living principle is opprefied, and, if lC 
allowable to fay fo, forrowful : but when the water is renewed around them, * n 
put in motion, fo as to refemble the circulation of their native tide, they aft ^ 
alertnefs and feeming joy; their every movement becomes animated and fportiv^ 
and frefh vigour gives additional elegance to every attitude of their delicate frat^ 
Thefe particulars are enough to awake our admiration, and further enquiry in ^ 
the wonderful ceconomy and operations of nature, that are for ever going forwar 
in the moll retired recedes of the ocean. 
The fpecimen of Coral which fuggefted thefe reflections, and is reprefented ^ 
the plate at A, is of a kind found mod common, when dredging on hard g r ° un ^’ 
a league or two from the coafts of Banff Jhire-, and often comes up with the ro' 
of ftones and fhells to which it adhered. B Ihews the cells confiderably magnifi e ’ 
and, from fpreading over the fubftratum, uniting into a Item, which afterwar 
divides into branches, as in the figure A. This fociety had reared their dwel ^ 
on a deferted cockle- fhell, to which many corallines adhered; a ftrong expre 1 
of the quietude of the waters around their refidences. C is the beautiful {bin 1 
furface of the end of a branch, highly magnified, as feen under water ; and ex » 
bits the general difpofition of the cells and apertures, guarded and adorne ^ 
thorny margins : where they end, at D, one obferves the cavities of new 
forming, by the polypes of the adjacent ones; and in fome inftances 
Cordiner has feen the infant polypes peeping through, as if beginning to take p 
feflion. 
At E is expreflfed feveral forms in which the polypes appear, as ifluing forth 
their concealments in the Coral ; and as feen fpreading, and playing about^ 
health and nourilhment, in the water. — Further comment on the energies ^ 
powers of thefe engaging animalcules, would tranfgrefs the boundaries o 
prefent article. 
