CORALS, SEA-ANEMONES, AND JELLY-FISHES 363 
mistaken for a big sea-anemone allied to the dahlia-anemone. On being disturbed, however, it 
immediately shrinks back upon its base, ejecting all the water with which its expanded tissues 
were filled, and revealing the presence of the hard radiating coral beneath. Each of the calcareous 
radii, which are now clearly defined through the thin semi-transparent skin, corresponds in position 
with one of the internal membranous partitions, and also with the origin of one of the tentacles. 
New mushroom-corals are produced as buds thrown off from the parent, which attach themselves 
and secrete a foot-stalk, to which they remain affixed, like the young of the feather star-fish, for 
the earlier epoch of their existence. Ultimately, however, they become detached, and, falling 
from their stalks, lie loosely on the sea-bottom, after the manner of their parents. The huge 
Photo by IV, Saville-Kent^ F.Z..?.') \_Milford-on~Sea 
BLEACHED CORALS FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 
B*'^nching %tag $~horn corah are ch'iejiy represented in this group. Se'veral of the large solitary 7nushroom-corah may^ ho'ive'very 
be obser'ved in the foreground 
coral-masses commonly known as MADREPORES, out of which coral-islands and reefs are con- 
structed, all commence as a single coral-animal, with its contained skeleton analogous to the 
mushroom-coral, though in all instances much smaller. The buds developed by the coral- 
polyp in these instances remain attached to the parent. If they spread out laterally, they 
build up by accumulation the large flattened or sub-spherical masses known as Braix- 
CORALS and Star-CORALS, which are most abundant on coast-line reefs, or form the bases of 
the outer barrier-reefs. Where, on the other hand, the budding is terminal or oblique, 
branching tree-like growths such as the Stag’S-HORN Corals, with their innumerable allies 
and variations, are produced. The colours of the coral-polyps are as brilliant and diverse 
as those of ordinary sea-anemones, living reefs, whereon a number of different species are 
