the whole coral, throughout all its ramifications, is marked 
externally by longitudinal ftrite proceeding from the 
very bafe itfelf. It mull be candidly confefled that a 
good (bare of philofophical faith is neceflary to reconcile 
us to the idea of all the coral tribe being entirely the 
work of animals: yet as we cannot prefume to contro¬ 
vert the well-known obfervations of Mr. Ellis, we (hall 
leave our readers to their own opinions, and at perfect 
liberty to regard thefe curious fubftances either as be¬ 
longing to the animal or vegetable kingdom, to both 
of which they feem to be itrangely allied. It is necef- 
fary to obferve that the fpecimens of red coral as gene¬ 
rally feen, have, in order to increafe the beauty of their 
appearance, been deprived of their cortical or exterior 
coat. A branch in its natural ftate, or with its exterior 
coat, is reprefented at fig. z. in the annexed plate. 
