are fo extremely fmall as not to admit of a view of 
any animal inhabitants, yet this circumftance is not 
fufficient to difprove the exiftence of fuch. Lin¬ 
naeus appears to have been convinced of the animal 
nature of this genus, merely from the circumftance 
of its being of a calcarious fubftance; according to 
his eftablifhed idea of all calcarious matter proceed¬ 
ing from the animal kingdom. The prefent fpecies 
of coralline is found in great abundance on the fub- 
marine rocks about moft of the European coafts; 
growing in cluftered tufts. Its colour varies ac¬ 
cording to circumftances; being fometimes pur- 
plifii ; at other times greenifh ; and fometimes, ef- 
pecially where much expofed to the fun, nearly 
wdiite. It once maintained a very refpedtable cha¬ 
racter in the materia medica, and was particularly 
celebrated for its anthelmintic powers; which the 
more illuminated caft of modern practice almoft 
univerfally denies it. 
