the Production of Corah . 22 r 
ture is every where wonderful; I fhall only 
remark, that were all thefe Cells filled with' 
Animals, and efpecially the very large Cells 
in fome Corals, to which the Animals muit 
be fuppofed proportionably large, it could 
fcarce have happened but that every Fifher 
for Coral, or whoever had feen a Branch of 
it in the Sea, mud likewife have feen thefe 
Animals. Befides, at different Times, there 
have been fome diligent Qbfervers of Coral, 
whofe Notice thefe Animals have efcaped 1 
which renders it probable, that though fame 
Cells may be inhabited, the Generality of 
them are not. And as to forming Conclufions 
from the minute Corallines , whofe Subfbance 
and Figure bear not the lead Refemblance 
to thefe, and infilling that becaufe the little 
Vefiels or Cafes found on them are the Nefts 
and the Works of Infedts, therefore Xnfedts 
mull: have been the Fabricators of all the 
Corals ; I fay, to conclude thus, is fomewhat 
over hafty and unphilofophical 
Though, 
* The Animals fuppofed to have formed Corals, or to have 
made their Nefls upon them, are, for want of knowing their 
proper and diftinguilhing Characters, called at prefent by the 
general Name of Polypes ; though perhaps their Species, Size, 
and Figure may be as different as the Corals thernfelves are: 
but thefe Animals are defcribed by all who fpeak of them, a$ 
having Bodies fo extremely tender that a very flight Touch 
will lacerate or diforder them. They are alfo reprefented as 
fxt to one Spot, with little other Motion than that of extend¬ 
ing their Arms or Bodies out of their Ceils, or contraffinv 
fhemfeivesandretiring therein at the Apprehenflon of Danger. 
Creatures thus circumitanced fee®, very little capable of col¬ 
lecting' 
