OTHER FAMOUS BUILDERS 137 
posited in the soft flesh until the little cup-like 
room with its partitions is formed. After a time 
buds or tiny branch-rooms start out from the 
sides and a coral family is begun. This goes on 
budding and branching until it has become a 
great coral community. As it grows, the lower 
portion dies, and thus the living polyps are found 
only at the top and ends of the branches. 
“ There are many species of coral, but only 
the red, pink and black coral grows in branches 
and is capable of taking on polish. Hence these 
are the only kinds of market value. White coral 
also grows in branched form but is not valuable. 
Coral is found growing in solid masses, in the 
form of beautiful vases, and in odd, tube-like 
clusters. All are gayly ornamented with star- 
like polyps in a variety of colors. Usually the 
warmer the ocean, the more delicate and wonder¬ 
ful the colors. 
“ The organ-pipe coral is one of the most inter¬ 
esting forms. It grows in red or purplish tubes 
connected by flat plates. The polyps are dressed 
in beautiful shades varying from violet to grass- 
green, and make a wonderfully gay appearance 
on their ruddy tubes. These corals are found in 
the Indian and Pacific oceans. The mushroom 
coral looks for all the world like an everyday 
mushroom turned upside down. It is the home 
of a single large polyp. 
