6 
Mr. ellis on the Gorgonia. 
conbfts of four or more layers of cells, which the ani- 
mal, by this kind of inftinft, moft certainly applies to 
iirengthen that flender part againlt the force of the 
waves. For another inftance of the bale of a zoophyte 
fpreading downwards to fecure itfelf, we have an exam- 
ple in the madrepora muricata , which is extending itfelf 
over a dead animal of the fame fpecies, fee fig. 5. 
The following remark of Dr. pallas will blew, 
that as he conceives the wood or horny item to he com- 
pofed of tubes, fo he thinks that there is a communica- 
tion of juices from the polypiferous pores on the cortical 
part to the inlide or horny part, as in trees : for he ob- 
ferves, that as the trunk of the gorgonia is always pro- 
portioned to the bze of its branches, the wood or horny 
part of the trunk, notwithftanding its hardnefs, muft ne- 
cebarily thrive, grow and increafe every way, even though 
the organs of the bark, or furrounding flebiy fubbance, 
at the trunk and bafe are obliterated 00 ; and hence he 
concludes, that the trunk muft receive nouridiment from 
the branches, and apprehends, this nouridiment to be 
ab fobbed and prepared by polypiferous pores. Now it is 
evident, that the idea of the trunk and bafe of a tree 
growing in thicknefs, when it is divefted of its furround- 
ing bark, Is contrary to the known laws of vegetation. 
The only method of increafe in the trunks of trees is by 
(a) Semper bafeos amplitude) ct imi trunci craflities proportionata magni- 
rudini fruticis reperitur; argumento corneam coruin partem, quam exemplo 
arborum fruticumque, lignum dicerequeat, obftante duritie ubique vigere, vivere 
ci in omnem dimenfionem crefcere, oblbletis quam vis coitieis in tiunco ct ball 
organis. pallas, Elench. Zoophyt. p. 161. 
the 
