222 - Conjectures concerning , See. 
Though, living far from the Sea, I hav^ 
never been able to examine Corallines juft 
taken from thence, I doubt not the Veracity 
of thofe who fay, that on placing them con« 
veniently in Sea Water, they have by Glaftes 
difeovered minute Polypes in every one of 
the little Veffels : but thefe Veffels or Cafes 
are of a membranaceous Texture, tran(pa¬ 
rent, and in moft Particulars intirely differ¬ 
ent from the Jlony Corals ; and even allowing 
them to be the Work and Nefts of Infedts, 
I am not yet, I muft confefs, intirely con¬ 
vinced that the whole Coralline is fo too j for 
in many of them a tough Stem, feemingly 
of like Confidence with that of other Sea- 
Productions acknowledged to be Plants, rifes 
from a Root or what appears to be fo, and 
branches out in fuch a Manner, that I be¬ 
lieve the moft accurate Examiner, void of 
any Hypothecs, would declare it to be-vegeta¬ 
ble.—In fhort, there are wonderful Mix¬ 
tures in the Sea y Stones, Shells, and Plants, 
lefling and carrying a Jlony Matter, and rafing Edifices there¬ 
with ; and efpecially in fuch large Quantity, that comparing 
the Smallnefs of the Cells wherein thefe Creatures are fup- 
pofed to dwell, with the Bulk, Solidity, and Weight of the 
Roots and Branches of many of the Stony Corals, the greateft 
Part of it appears quite unnecenary. This is directly con- 
trary to the Oeconomy of Nature (frugal though fujficient) iti 
the Shelly Cafes ©f the feveral Species ol Vermkuli, in the 
Tubuli marini , the Pipe Corals , and the Habitations made 
by other fmall Infects ; all which, like the Honey-comb, are 
framed of as little Matter as poffible, thin, light and roomy, 
and appear to be what they are. I (hall only add, again# the 
fuppofing all Corals to be made by Infefts, that fome Sorts 
have no Cells either on their Stems or Branches. 
■'< "• s . are 
