72 LIFE AND HER CHILDREN. 
tentacles (b, Fig. 27) to feed, takes carbonate of lime 
from the water,and colouring it, we scarcely know how, 
begins to build with it red spikes or spicules into its 
jelly flesh ; only into its mouth and stomach it lays no 
spicules but leaves them soft and white. Then after 
a while it begins to throw off buds, as we have seen 
the hydra do and some anemones, and each of these 
Fig. 27. 
Growth of Red Coral.* After Lacaze-Ditthiers. 
a, A young coral settling down, b, The same putting out its tentacles. 
c, The same gradually forming new mouths, d, A coral branch with 
numerous mouths. 
buds remains on the stem pure and white, while the 
jelly, full of red spicules, joins them all together 
(c, Fig. 27). And then as more and more buds are 
formed and the branches lengthen out the young 
coral becomes a coral-tree (d, Fig. 27), with all its 
buds or polypes spread out like dazzling pure white 
flowers, each with its eight rays expanded over the 
* Coral In m rub rum. 
